The Founder of Internet Society (ISOC) Ghana Chapter, Professor Nii Narku Quaynor, has suggested that internet service should be provided for free schools and tertiary educational institutions across the country.
That, he said, would promote research and Information Communication Technology (ICT) education in the country.
Prof. Quaynor said this in an interview with the Ghanaian Times when the ISOC Ghana Chapter awarded him with a plaque and a citation for his efforts to introduce internet to Ghana in the 90s.
This was during the ISOC Ghana Chapter Meeting and Encryption for Security IoT Day held at the Balme Library of the University of Ghana in Accra.
Prof. Quaynor explained that the internet had become a vital tool for development and there was the need to provide free internet for schools to help students conduct research.
He said the internet which offered access to information on the World Wide Web could aid students in their education and help them develop innovative ICT products and services to accelerate national development.
Prof. Quaynor also entreated the government to reduce taxes on internet services to deepen internet penetration in the country.
The current internet penetration in the country according to ISOC Ghana Chapter stood at 33 per cent and the Founder of the ISOC Ghana Chapter said the figure could have gone up if the access to internet was cheap.
He called for collaboration among all stakeholders to deepen internet penetration and promote cyber security, and commended the ISOC Ghana Chapter for the honour done him.
The Board Chairman of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), Dr Moahmmed-Sani Abdulai called on the telecommunication companies in the country to help fund research and capacity building in the ICT sector.
He said the next wave of industrial revolution would be hinged on ICT, artificial intelligence, big data and network and Ghana needed to position it itself to harness the opportunity these tools present.
Against this backdrop, Dr Abdulai said there would be the need for capacity building to train Ghanaians to develop ICT products and services and reduce the country’s reliance on foreign ICT products and services.
The President of ISOC Ghana Chapter, Marcus Adomey commended Prof. Quaynor for his immense contribution to the introduction of internet in Ghana.
By Kingsley Asare
