Take Advantages Of ICT To Create Jobs - Prez Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has tasked Ghanaians to take advantage of the proliferation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services to create jobs.

            President Mahama also tasked the National Communication Authority (NCA) and stakeholders to take steps to protect users against the vices of ICT.

            These were contained in a speech read on his behalf, by Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, the Minister of Communication at the commissioning of the NCA’s Tower, Airport City, in Accra.

            The NCA Tower comprises 11 floors, including two underground parking levels and three elevators adaptive to the physically challenged. The additional 11 boasts elevators have audio prompt for the visually impaired. The building also has an ultra-modern gym and restaurant.

            President Mahama stated that Ghana was recognised at the frontier of ICT in Africa; while the sector had generated over 400,000 jobs over the past four years.

            He recounted that Ghana had been ranked as the first African country in the sub region to have introduced widespread technologies in the area of education, agriculture and health.

            He said Ghana had increased mobile subscription to more than 130 per cent and since 2009, mobile telecommunication usage had jumped from 11 million to 35 million.

          The country has 18 million data subscribers now.

            He said Cabinet had also approved a number of policies to expand the frontiers of the ICT and telecommunication industry.

             President Mahama expressed contentment that the NCA through its deregulation and liberation of the airwaves, now had seen 300 FM stations in operation saying, that these were  arming the public with information.

            He announced that the Ministry of Communication had implemented policies that had ably facilitated and improved the quality of service delivery in the telecommunication industry.

            The President urged the NCA and industry players to continue to develop policies without any prejudice or favour that had the tendency to go against users.