Spio-Garbrah outlines 4 pillars of ICT
By: Remmy Nweke 13/07/2007

The chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, has outlined four basic pillars of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

Speaking at this year's anniversary of the British Computer Society (BCS), Dr. Spio-Garbrah, said that four pillars exist that must be considered by the developing nations of the world if they are to tap into the abundant opportunities inherent in ICTs.

According to him, when consideration is given to the four pillars of ICTs, namely telecoms, broadcasting, core Information Technology (IT) and the Internet, "it becomes even more evident that to give the developing world the best possible opportunity to vocalise their problems and needs. It's imperative that ICTs are fully embraced."

He added that in order to leverage on the use of ICTs by developing countries, these aforementioned four basics must be adhered to.

Also attending were other ICT experts such as the Senior Lecturer, Information Systems at the London School of Economics, Dr Shirin Madon and Director, Gamos Limited, and Dr. Simon Batchelor to name a few.

Highway Africa News Agency (HANA) gathered that the focus on ICTs for economic development (ICT4D) at the three-day event was to herald the first phase of "Celebrating fifty years of British Computing," which began on Thursday 12th July 2007 and is expected to last through Saturday 14th July 2007 in London.

Dr. Spio-Garbrah, who is a former Ghanaian ICT Minister, noted that nowadays ICT tools such as Personal Computers (PC), mobile phones and the Internet have revolutionised the way people in the developed world live and peoples of the developing world must follow that model of development.

"Now, there is increasing interest, supported by real world instances, that ICT?s are having a similar effect on individuals and communities in the developing world," he said.

He stressed that the forum was planned to give delegates a chance to gain a better understanding of ICTs for Development (ICT4D), to learn about its theoretical underpinnings in IT and development studies, and to find out how ICTs could really help to reduce poverty.

He further emphasised that there is no question whether the role of ICTs in rural economic development is fundamental or not.

"Whether you're talking about how to connect rural communities, the potential for growth through investment by ICT corporations, or how ICTs facilitate the growth and development of e-Governance is clear.? he said.

Ends