A study conducted by a Cape Coast-based NGO, Youth Aid Foundation for Winners (YAFOW), on the prospects for an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Park in Cape Coast has concluded that the region has the necessary features and infrastructure crucial for the establishment of such a facility.
A statement released in Accra on Thursday said the research constituted a pre-feasibility study for the establishment of an ICT Park in the Central Region.
The Park, among other things, was expected to primarily serve as a catalyst for local development and employment, and at the same time facilitate knowledge and technology transfer to the broader national economy, it said.
Furthermore, it hopes to develop networks, alliances, partnerships and opportunities with local and foreign establishments.
The statement said the park would also foster an innovative culture within the Cape Coast municipality, thereby promoting interaction among stakeholders, institutions and clients through seminars, guest lectures, joint projects, sub-contracting work among other things.
"The findings in the report point to the fact that, there is a genuine appreciation for establishing such a facility in Cape Coast."
The study also pointed out certain critical factors necessary for the success of the Park.
These include the need for a factual and balanced feasibility study, a steady supply of skilled manpower, a desirable working and living environment, access to financing and capitalization and good government tax incentive.
Others are qualified managers and Board of Directors, the adoption of a clear mandate and monitoring modalities, periodic assessment, development of financing options, seeking national and international linkages and establishing strategic alliances for a global market.
According to Mr Christian Afenyo-Bansah, Director of YAFOW, the feasibility study unveiled very pertinent information that would not have been identified without such a study.
He assured corporate bodies, institutions and organizations, individuals and the investor community who would like to take advantage of the numerous business opportunities in the areas of education, tourism, agro-processing and marketing existing in the Central Region and that of energy and the recent oil find in nearby Western Region that the Cape Coast Park would serve all their ICT needs.
He added that promoting an ICT Park project in the Cape Coast Municipality was a conscious effort by his organization and partners to see that over 2,500 unemployed graduates gained decent and sustainable jobs upon its completion.
Reviewing the report, the Board Chairman of YAFOW, Rev. Prof S. K. Adjepong, who is also the Principal of Methodist University College, thanked the Director of YAFOW and the research team for living up to their mandate, which culminated into such a comprehensive report.
He noted that the report would serve as a working document for the establishment of the planned ICT Park in Cape Coast.
He expressed the hope that all identifiable stakeholders including government, the private sector and civil society would respond positively to the recommendations contained in the report.
He thanked the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) for the support and said that it was another example of the CTO's multi-strata strategy to promote ICTs with the Commonwealth.
Commenting on the recommendations of the report, the Chief Executive of the CTO, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, expressed satisfaction with the report and noted that the recommendations suggested the need for a private-public-peoples' partnership, which was the model for developing countries to follow if they were to leverage resources from all sectors - government, private and civil society-in the midst of limited resources to undertake major development projects geared at the deployment and diffusion of ICTs such as the proposed ICT Park.
He further acknowledged that the establishment of the ICT Park would increase the wealth of the region by promoting the culture of innovation and competitiveness of technology oriented businesses and knowledge-based institutions in the region.
Dr Spio-Garbrah was hopeful that the relevant government agencies, including the Ministries of Education, Trade and Industry, Employment and Social Welfare, and Communications could work closely with the Central Regional Development Commission (CEDECOM), the technical wing of Central Regional Coordination Council(CRCC) and such agencies as the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, the Free Zones Board, the Association of Ghana Industries on one hand and Youth Aid Foundation for Winners(YAFOW) and other private sector institutions to move the project forward.
Dr Spio-Garbrah also noted that prominent citizens of the region belonging to such development associations as the Oguaman Union in Ghana, the Mfantse Mpuntu Kuw in the United Kingdom and Alumni associations of Cape Coast area schools should assist in awakening the great potentials of Cape Coast so as to enable the region to benefit from the advantages of the global knowledge revolution and competition.