Date: 06/12/2023
In a historic event organized by the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho, Sokode Lokoe, Volta Region, the Korea-Ghana Information Access Centre (IAC) was officially launched.
The grand opening ceremony was graced by distinguished guests, including the University Faculty, Mr. Augustus K. Awity, the Director of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, Mr. Desmond Kitsi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Genius IT Foundation, and Mr. Emmanuel Agbesi, the Volta Regional Lead, representing the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs.
Among the dignitaries in attendance was Her Excellency Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister of Communications and Digitalization, Ghana. The event marked a significant step towards fostering digital skills development and information access in the country.
The collaborative effort between the Korean and Ghanaian governments materialized with the handover of the state-of-the-art Information Access Centre to UHAS. The facility, equipped with cutting-edge amenities, aims to facilitate electronic learning and enhance digital transformation in Ghana. The agreement, signed in 2021, has culminated in the completion of the IAC, featuring an ICT training room, video conferencing capabilities, multimedia and robotic training facilities, and assistive technologies for the vision and hearing-impaired.
During the ceremony, Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful acknowledged the magnitude of the provided facilities and pledged the government’s support. She affirmed the intention to reinforce the facility with high-speed internet connectivity, ensuring the optimal use of the advanced equipment.
The Director of the Global Digital Transformation Team at the National Information Agency (NIA) of Korea, Yang Hyun-Soo, expressed delight at the effective utilization of the IAC. He emphasized its role as an innovation hub, indicating active support from the NIA to transform the centre into a focal point for AI, big data, cloud, mobile, and other digital technology education.
Following a tour of the centre, Mr Desmond Kitsi, the Executive Director of Genius IT Foundation, commended the ambience and resources of the IAC. Despite recognizing that the facility may not fully serve the entire university community, Kitsi acknowledged its value as a resource open to the public. He pledged that the Genius IT Foundation would leverage these resources to advance its mission of promoting digital inclusiveness and safe technology use within the community.
Mr. Augustus K. Awity, the head of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council and representative of the Volta Regional Minister, stressed the importance of implementing maintenance policies. During the feedback session, he urged the university to establish and adhere to maintenance protocols, emphasizing that proper maintenance is crucial for realizing the anticipated positive impact of the facility on the university community and the broader Volta region.
