BB4GH - Ghana's new Broadband Strategy | Biz + Tech

BB4GH – Ghana’s new Broadband Strategy

Posted on 21. Oct, 2009 by Justin Dakorah in Biz + Tech, Unwired

An always on, 256kbps or more broadband connection for 50% of Ghana’s people is being promised by 2015, with hopes of boosting the GDP some 6.9% within the time frame. This is what Ghana’s new Broadband Strategy is all about. This comes barely a couple of months after the country announced a project to link all regional and district capitals to fibre for internet.

The strategy is being fashioned out of existing ICT policies and takes into consideration all on-going projects and plans underway in the sector. I want to call this BB4GH-2015. Mostly when strategies and plans are being drawn their endpoint is so far off, they become hard to follow (Vision 2020, 2015). This on the other hand seems within reach and largely attainable under the right circumstances.

The opportunities this creates are endless but are subject to the response of the people. Imagine Ghana’s own “dot.com.gh” bubble. One service comes to mind, Skype (but is it legal). Oh and distance education and e-learning, software-as-a-service. If only we have online payment platforms by say 2011, then all will definitely be set right.

One thing though, How fair will this 50% penetration be. One in every two Ghanaian will have broadband across the country is what i hope is being discussed. we are all very aware of how Accra is the new-world Ghana and the rest of us are far left behind, and with that the country is still making some progress….. So lets hope 50% doesn’t end up being everyone in Accra, some people in Kumasi, a few in Western and Eastern and a handful of the rest.

The draft strategy available currently doesn’t really tackle the issue of geographical distribution as yet.

Anyway I believe we are more than ready as a country but a little work needs to be done with the people to prepare us.

Tags: BB4GH, broadband, business, Ghana, ghanaconnect, ICT4D, internet, strategy, technology, Unwired

1484 Responses2009-10-21+23%3A22%3A58Justin+Dakorah to “BB4GH – Ghana’s new Broadband Strategy”

Nana Kwabena Owusu

28. Oct, 2009

I believe in order to reap the proper benefits out of any broadband strategy the focus should not be only on the technical and technology aspects only.

In fact I believe we should focus on the question, "What do we wish to the broadband connectivity to achieve?" In this case improving GDP is one of the goals. I know there are some studies which show some connection between better internet connectivity and GDP.

My question is simple, Does the strategy include ensuring our farmers are ready to use the internet to adopt better farming practices, follow weather patterns and receive instant alerts about outbreaks of crop and animal diseases.

That is the 'make or break' part of any Ghanaian broadband startegy.

Reply to this comment
jhkjhkj

20. Dec, 2009

Our country demands a detailed plan and strategy for urban and rural development. This plan should not be left in the archives but rather adhered to and strictly implemented.

Further development and enhancement of ICT etc can then be driven on this strategy.

ICT projects are expensive and poor planning will rather make our situation more complicated.
Imagine running a fibre backbone for the Central Market in Kumasi

Our nations development should not be handled in isolation. A holistic approach with all sections taken into consideration is what we need.

Reply to this comment
kokoteh

31. Dec, 2009

All this talk is #X33$R%#W@**. It is not the first time!
Put all the money into free education for all from Primary to University and free health care for all Ghanaians in respect of the illness, and I asure you by 2020 our GDP could hover over 10%.
It means more schools and clinic buildings and equipment, well paid teachers and healthcare personnel, etc.etc. Less importation of expensive cars (Yes, even if our President should ride a bicycle), less foreign travels,(remember the bamboo, iron curtains, etc) less seminars and conferences, less drinking and partying, etc.etc. more concentration on local foodstuffs and prudent management of all our resources. Are we not building our country? All should put their shoulders to the wheel. Just another push… choooboi…

Reply to this comment
- just2izy
  
  04. Jan, 2010
  
  I agree with you that the excesses of government expenditure must be curbed. I also agree the government can and should do more in health and education, especially in strengthening the quality of practical learning.
  
  However the FREE model may not be the best as in some cases in reduces the active participation of some parents in education and makes healthier living messages also moot when it comes to health.
  
  An example is with the free maternal care which saves lives but also means there is less of an incentive for family planning and limiting the number of children a couple have based on economic capacity.
  
  I am especially for increasing the costs of tuition at the tertiary level because frankly paying tuition fees less than the cost of a mobile phone clearly points to lower quality education. There is also the issue of which model becomes the basic quality to be attained, local LA Basic schools or Lincoln International.
  
  Health I will fully support, maybe subsidized public transport services but education not in my opinion. I somehow feel there would be more active participation in correcting the tertiary education system if it cost more.
  
  Reply to this comment