The Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT is pleased to invite you to a Technology Transformation Seminar on Monday, March 1st from 2-4pm.

John Hawker based in Thailand, will share his first hand experience of the planning and deployment of the world’s first pure IP satellite, iPSTAR. He brings his experience of the impact that access to low cost internet brings to rural areas in Asia and the related opportunities for Africa. iPSTAR brought VSAT to rural Asian communities at one-tenth the cost of regular VSAT. Broadband at below $100 per mbps enabled many economic opportunities for Asian countries covered by iPSTAR. The in-depth explanation of this transformational solution; from the social benefits, the failures and technologies involved will be detailed.Europe and USA are now deploying pure IP satellites and Africa is positioned to do the same. This lecture is a must for anyone wanting to see the future of ICT access and benefits.

You are Cordially Invited to participate in the 4th Conference on FOSS and the Digital Commons – IDLELO 4

May 17-21, 2010 | AITI-KACE | Opp. The Council of State offices, Ridge – Accra, Ghana

IDLELO is one conference for FOSS practitioners, developers and advocates as well as governments to showcase results, share experiences and challenges, review progress on the continent in diverse domains and chart a way forward for an African future grounded in true ownership of technology. IDLELO is therefore a premier international forum for the presentation of research results in Free and Open Source Software(FOSS) in Africa.

From May 17-21, 2010, FOSSFA is holding the Fourth Conference on FOSS and the Digital Commons in Accra, Ghana. This event gathers the brightest minds in FOSS, including developers, distribution maintainers, business leaders, end users, system vendors, other community organizations and government official. It is the only conference designed to encourage sharing, collaboration and encourage solutions by bringing together a true cross-section of leaders to meet face-to-face to tackle and solve the most pressing issues facing FOSS on the African Continent today.

Registration:

To register for the IDLELO 4 Conference please complete the Registration Form or “http://idlelo.net/content/idlelo-4-conference-registration-form”. Please note, limited sponsorship exist for early registrants. The basis for awarding these sponsorships is based on first-come-first-server basis. Register early to avoid disappointment!!

A ceremony to begin work on Ghana’s first Technology Park at Adako-Jachie in the Ejisu-Juaben `Municipality of the Ashanti Region was held on Thursday.

The 2 million dollar-project is being funded jointly by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and IBIS TECH, a business consultancy firm.

On completion, it would bring together experts from across the scientific, technological and industrial disciplines for collaboration and nurturing of ideas for the growth of companies and firms that would reside at the Park.

Additionally, it would enhance technology-based industries with development capabilities and training while partnering with industry leaders.

Facilities provided for include incubation, research and development centres.

Vice President John Dramani Mahama, in an address read for him, said science and technology hold the key to Ghana’s sustainable socio-economic development and therefore government would support programmes and projects in these two areas.

This, he said, would lead to wealth creation to alleviate poverty among the people and improve their living conditions.

The Vice President said he was confident that with the availability of technical and competent staff, the Park would provide expert opinions and approaches and also offer innovative and cost effective solutions to business problems.

This according to him would go a long way to enhance the link between the University and industry, a synergy, which is attested as a basic tool for national progress.

Vice President Mahama lauded the Technical Consultancy Centre (TCC) of KNUST and IBIS TECH for the initiative saying, it would help to protect the intellectual property of faculty members, under-graduate and post-graduate students in the country.

He re-echoed government’s determination to extend the Mathematics, Science and Technology Scholarship schemes to all state-owned universities in the country to harness the potentials of students in science and technology.

The Vice President said the scheme seeks to enhance education in science and technology, adding that in future 60 per cent of students, who gain admission into public universities, would be encouraged to pursue science-based courses.

He urged KNUST to liaise with industries in the Ashanti Region, particularly the Suame Magazine to help develop the skills and expertise of the mechanics and artisans to boost their trade.

Dr Peggy Oti-Boateng, Director of the TCC, said since its establishment in 1978, the Centre had contributed immensely to achieving breakthroughs in the areas of agriculture, engineering, science and technology through research.

Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, Vice Chancellor of the University, was upbeat about the potential of the Park to transform the private sector into a development tool.

Nana Osei Bosompem III, Chief of Adako-Jachie, said apart from the Park, he had also released land to the Kumasi Polytechnic for development to enhance education.

Source: GNA