Kwami Ahiabenu,II Knowledge Chief

Africa's tech pioneers play catch up By Briony Hale  BBC News Online business reporter, Accra, Ghana Can IT overcome Africa's old economy problems? Sub-Saharan Africa is a non-entity for many of those at the cutting edge of Western technology. But Africa is intent on bridging the digital divide. In the first of a new series, BBC News Online visits a technology fair in Ghana. Aitec - West Africa's version of the world's largest computer fair, Cebit - embraces the whole spectrum of technology firms. Potential clients heading for a more detailed examination of VSAT satellite communication links are stopped by enthusiastic salesmen offering personal computers on three-year hire purchase schemes. A Nigerian firm offering casing for hardware finds itself next to multinational electronics giant Siemens, which is installing fibre optic links for the government. British techies extolling the benefits of banking via mobile phones are rubbing shoulders with Ghanaians offering soun...

Mr Kwami Ahiabenu II, a  Technology Innovation Experts has postulated that in the era of global COVID-19 pandemic, the new digital technologies are now indispensable for the conduct of Election 2020.  "Ghanaian politicians desirous of reaching out to the electorate with their campaign messages must turn to the use of technology in order to reach out to voters.  Today COVID-19 has raised the issue of Public health and the need to follow preventive restriction.  "Limiting face-to-face contact plus the need for adhering to physical distancing means face to face interactions are being replaced with virtual opportunities – Virtual Campaigns," Mr Ahiabenu stated at a public political education forum in Accra.  The Public Education Platform: webinar was on the theme: "Using the Virtual Public Space for the 2020 Elections Campaign," was created by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) to discuss the usage of the virtual space for campaign.  The main object...

The Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) has announced its decision to organize a webinar to promote what it terms as “responsible virtual election campaigning”. The event themed “Using the Virtual Public Space for the 2020 Elections Campaign” will be held on July 18, 2020. This, according to them, is as part of plans to contribute its quota towards achieving peaceful elections with credible outcomes in the face of restrictions brought about by COVID-19. According to IDEG, virtual mediums such as radio, TV, webinars, and social media, although very powerful and important for the upcoming elections have some inhibitions which if not addressed could pose a threat to the country’s peace and stability. The Democratic Governance institute also registered its displeasure about the fact that technology is used to promote impunity and undermine the integrity of parliamentary and presidential elections. “The influx of commercial radio and television stations in the country coupled with th...

DEG Webinar on   Using the Virtual Public Space for the 2020 Elections Campaign: Opportunities, Challenges and the Way Forward Watch session on YouTube at 

Like other countries Ghana has been adversely affected by COVID 19. The country recorded its first case on 13th March 2020 and since then cases have been on the increase, surpassing 17,000 as at 29th June 2020. More distressing is the fact there is no vaccine for the virus and it is expected to take over a year for some to be produced. This makes a very complicated case and the health of the population has to be prioritized and protected. The government has subsequently imposed limited restrictions on all forms of public gathering. Meanwhile Ghana’s eighth presidential and parliamentary elections is scheduled to take place in December 2020, about five months away. Under the current COVID-19 conditions, it is likely that campaigning through large political rallies will shift to campaigning through the use of virtual media; radio, TV, webinars, and social media. Political parties and election candidates will now rely extensively on electronic media; both traditional and social media...

You are invited to the  following  Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG)   event: Theme:  Using the Virtual Public Space for the 2020 Electioneering Campaign When:   Wednesday, 8 th  July 2020 from 10:00am - 12:00pm (GMT) Where:    Please click  here  to register! (The link for the virtual forum will be shared prior to the meeting) Background Like other countries, Ghana has been adversely affected by COVID 19. The country recorded its first case on 13th March 2020 and since then cases have been on the increase, surpassing 17,000 as at 29th June 2020. More distressing is the fact that there is no vaccine for the virus, and it is expected to take over a year for some to be produced. This makes a very complicated case and the health of the population has to be prioritized and protected. The government has subsequently imposed limited restrictions on all forms of public gathering. Meanwhile Ghana’s eighth presidentia...

Join us for Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) event:  https://bit.ly/3eNIJW2 Using the Virtual Public Space for the 2020 Electioneering Campaign When: Wed 8th July 2020 @10:00am (GMT) Register now