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Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, has urged Ghanaians to exercise their franchise in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in a civil manner to protect the country’s peace and stability.
She said peaceful elections were the bedrock on which every strong democracy was established, urging Ghanaians to use the ballot box to make choices that would shape the future of the country.
“As Ghana goes to the polls, I encourage you to exercise your civic responsibility with wisdom and integrity,” she said.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful gave the advice in a speech read on her behalf at the 34th congregation ceremony of the Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU), held in Accra, over the weekend, where 1,568 students graduated with various honours.
This included two PhD, 43 Coventry University graduates, 13 GCTU master’s graduates and 1,508 undergraduates, from faculties such as ICT, Business and Engineering.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP’s) Parliamentary Candidate for the Ablekuma West Constituency, charged the electorate, especially the youth, to elect a leader who would provide “bold solutions” to the challenges confronting the state, while delivering development, inclusivity, and progress to the people of Ghana.
“I encourage you all to be active participants in this process. Educate yourselves on the policies and programmes that matter most to you, and vote for leadership that will continue to provide bold solutions which promote development, inclusivity, and progress,” she stressed.
The 34th congregation of the GCTU was on the theme; “Bridging Divides: Technology and Education for an Inclusive Digital Economy.”
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful commended the GCTU for its immense contribution to the development of the ICT and digital sector by churning out qualified and competent graduates required for the sector’s growth, every year.
Technology today, she said, had become an essential tool upon which many economies, governance and social structures were being reconstructed.
As a result, she said Ghana’s commitment to digitalisation, remained resolute with government embarking on numerous projects such as the Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project, National Roaming system and the Girls-in-ICT, all geared towards achieving exclusivity.
“From expanding broadband infrastructure to digitising public services, we aim to create an inclusive digital ecosystem where every citizen – regardless of background – can participate and benefit,” Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said.
On the Ghana Rural Telephony and Digital Inclusion Project, for example, the Minister said, government had successfully connected 1,460 sites out of the 2,016 targeted sites it hoped to construct as of October this year, with the remaining expected to be finished by end of year.
When completed, the project would serve more than 3.5 million people across the country.
On the National Roaming system, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said, this had widened the access to mobile connectivity and broadband services, as well as opened doors to education, e-commerce, and digital innovation.
“These have brought reliable communication to remote villages, bridging digital divides and offering residents a chance to connect to a global network of opportunities,” she added.
Additionally, she disclosed that some 250 Community ICT Centres (CICs) had been constructed across the country, with 129 currently operational, aimed at expanding access to digital resources in unserved and underserved locations.
She urged GCTU to continue provide the expertise needed to bridge the digital gap in Ghana’s quest to create a modern, digital economy, to ensure inclusivity.
Professor Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa, Vice-Chancellor of GCTU, expressed the University’s commitment to be a leading ICT and the technology education in Ghana.
Since the beginning of this year, he said, the institution had introduced cutting-edge programmes at all levels, tailored to the changing demands of the digital economy.
“Moreover, we have deepened our collaborations with industry and international partners, creating an ecosystem that bridges the gap between academia and the professional world,” he added.
Prof Afoakwa advised the graduates to go out there and contribute meaningfully to the country’s digital transformation and help achieve inclusivity.
Source: GNA
