Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ACCRA2212
2006-09-20 09:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Accra
Cable title:  

GLOBAL INTERNET FREEDOM INITIATIVE: RESPONSE TO

Tags:  EAID ECPS GH PHUM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAR #2212/01 2630942
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200942Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2447
UNCLAS ACCRA 002212 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECPS GH PHUM
SUBJECT: GLOBAL INTERNET FREEDOM INITIATIVE: RESPONSE TO
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

REF: SECSTATE 142147

UNCLAS ACCRA 002212

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECPS GH PHUM
SUBJECT: GLOBAL INTERNET FREEDOM INITIATIVE: RESPONSE TO
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

REF: SECSTATE 142147


1. Summary. In response to reftel, Post has identified ten
USAID projects and one Public Affairs Section (PAS) projects
that directly promote access to, and use of, the internet in
Ghana. All of the programs mentioned have been completed,
except the Last Mile Initiative and the PAS program. Most of
the projects involved one-time purchases of ICT equipment for
recipients, sometimes as a complement to a broader USAID
project.

FYO6 Projects

A) Information Technology Support to Ghana Research and
Advocacy Program
B) Information Technology Support to Rights and Voice
Initiative
C) Information Technology Support to the Ministry of Finance
D) Trade and Investment Program for a Competitive Export
Economy (TIPCEE) and Last Mile Initiative
E) Public Affairs Section (PAS): Information Resource Center

FYO5 Projects

A) Legislative Database and Computer Equipment for Parliament
B) Information Technology Support to Legal Resources Center
(LRC)

FY04 Projects

A) Center for the Development of People (CEDEP)
B) Center for Information Technologies Research and
Development (CITRED)
C) Center for Empowerment of the Vulnerable (CEV)
D) Volta Regional Association of NGOs (VORANGO)

End Summary.


2. FY 06 Projects
--------------

A) Information Technology Support to Ghana Research and
Advocacy Program

Recipient: Ghanaian Research and Advocacy Program (G-RAP)
partner organizations.
Project Description: The Ghana Research and Advocacy
Programme (G-RAP) seeks to enhance the capacity of research
and advocacy organizations (RAOs) to carry out evidence based
research and advocacy on economic, social, political and
security issues along with providing support for
institutional development of RAOs to enhance their autonomy
and capacity to contribute effectively to the development
progress. The core funds provided by G-RAP do not provide
enough support to cover information and communication
technology (ICT).
IT Component: Computer equipment and software to increase
effectiveness of organizations.
Funding: USD 50,000


B) Information Technology Support to Rights and Voice
Initiative

Recipient: USAID's Organization of Rights and Voice

Initiative (RAVI) partner organizations.
Project Description: RAVI is a fund targeted at enhancing
citizen's engagement with the state in relation to the
respect, protection, and fulfillment of civil cultural,
economic, and political and social rights. RAVI targets
grassroots level organizations that focus on advocacy issues
particularly at the local level. The organizations associated
with RAVI have at most limited and obsolete IT equipment.
IT Component: Computer equipment and related software.
Funding: USD 50,000


C) Information Technology Support to the Ministry of Finance

Recipient: Ministry of Finance.
Project Description: Support for the Ministry of Finance and
Economic Planning's (MoFEP's) efforts to enhance its
information technology capacity and its ability to
communicate with development partners and efficiently manage
information.
IT Component: Computer equipment and related software.
Funding: USD 200,000



D) Trade and Investment Program for a Competitive Export
Economy (TIPCEE)/Last Mile Initiative

Recipient: Ministry of Communications, small-scale farmers

and private sector exporters.
Project Description: USAID Ghana provided support for policy
and regulatory reform and will provide ICT applications for
rural development. USAID has worked with the World Bank to
finalize three telecommunications bills, which address
independence of the regulatory, openness and transparency in
the exercise of the regulator, convergence of voice, data,
and video technologies, increased competition in the
industry, and universal access to ICT. The legislation will
help enable the Ghana Investment Fund to develop rural ICT
infrastructure and extend ICT access to all parts of the
country.
IT Component: Under the Last Mile Initiative (LMI),USAID
will support expansion of ICT applications in rural areas to
farmers, businesses and other exporting organizations.
Electronic exchange of bar code transactions between farmers
producing horticultural products for export and local pack
houses and the ports will permit real-time data connectivity
along the value chain. The technology uses PDA-based
software and GSM mobile phone communication technology.
Funding FY 05: USD 250,000
Funding FY 06: USD 250,000

E) Public Affairs Section (PAS): Information Resource Center
Recipient: General Public.
Project Description: PAS provides internet training to Muslim
student groups as well as exchange students from Ghana
preparing to travel to the United States for a year in
American high school under the Youth Exchange and Study (YES)
program.
IT Component: Ten public-access terminals located at the
Martin Luther King Jr. Information Resource Center. PAS is
also in the process of donating computers to the Ghana
Institute for Journalism and should do a handover ceremony in
October 2006.



3. FY 05 Projects
--------------

A) Legislative Database and Computer Equipment for Parliament

Recipient: Parliament.
Project Description: This project provided a series of
searchable legislative databases that include: the Ghana Law
Dictionary; the Acts of the 4th Republic; all Legislative
Instruments; Ghana's Consolidated Statues; and all Executive
Instruments. As a result, members and staff of Parliament
now have immediate electronic access to all of Ghana's
existing laws, executive instruments, and legislative
instruments as they consider, debate, and sometimes amend new
bills brought before them.
IT Component: Databases, a server on which to store the
databases and additional computer equipment to ensure that
all the clerks and research staff have access to the
databases.
Funding: USD 80,000

B) Information Technology Support to Legal Resources Centre
(LRC)

Recipient: Legal Resources Centre (LRC).
Project Description: The LRC is one of the up and coming NGOs
actively engaging Parliament. This project provided the LRC
with a number of computers, a better internet connection, web
hosting support, and printers. LRC was able to establish a
solid information technology infrastructure that enabled it
to continue to play a significant role in the democracy and
governance section.
IT Component: Computer, internet connection, web hosting
support and printers.
Funding: USD 30,000



4. FY 04 Projects
--------------

A) Center for the Development of People (CEDEP)

Recipient: Jachie Community Learning Center (CLC),Ashanti
Region.
Project Description: Access to internet information and
communications at an affordable cost and in a socially,
economically, and politically friendly environment.
IT Component: Computer equipment, internet connection, and
some operational expenses for startup period of the CLS.
Funding: USD 55,500


B) Center for Information Technologies Research and
Development (CITRED)

Recipient: The Community Learning Center, Tamale.

Project Description: Computer and internet training to
students and teachers. Funds provided ICT support and
services to institutions, organizations and individuals,
networked people in the northern community, and established
ICT facilities in peri-urban and rural communities in Ghana.
IT Component: Computer equipment, internet connection, and
some operational expenses for startup period of the CLC.
Funding: USD 73,300


C) Center for the Empowerment of the Vulnerable (CEV)

Recipient: Community Learning Center (CLC),Sunyani.
Project Description: The CLC provided a broad range of
services for vulnerable populations, including access to
technology and electronic information, training, and
awareness raising.
IT Component: Computer equipment, internet connection, and
some operational expenses for startup period of the CLC.
Funding: USD 79,500


D) Volta Region Association of NGOs (VORANGO)

Recipient: Community Learning Center, Ho.
Project Description: The VORANGO CLC provided access to the
internet and organized low-cost computer proficiency courses
for both members and the general public. Courses covered
introductory computer, e-mail, and internet use. The learning
center will enhance the human and institutional capacity of
VORANGO, as well as of individual member organizations, by
upgrading internet skills and enabling NGOs in the Volta
Region to play a more focused and effective role in regional
development efforts.
IT Component: Computer equipment, internet connection, and
some operational expenses for startup period of the CLC
Funding: USD 41,800



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