The National Information Technology Agency (NITA) in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, held a capacity-building workshop for selected media practitioners in the Greater Accra Region. The workshop was to engage the media on the role of NITA in the digital ecosystem and the collaborations with its sister agencies under the Ministry of Communication and Digitalization (MOCD)
Over seventy (70) participants attended the workshop, which included media personalities (morning show hosts and prominent journalists) as well as representatives from its parent ministry and the invited agencies, such as the National Communication Authority (NCA), Ghana Post, Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMET), Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission (PCSRC), Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence (AITI-KACE) and others.
NITA Engages Stakeholders For Effective Data Centre & Cloud Regulations
In his opening remarks, the Director General of NITA, Richard Okyere-Fosu, emphasized the importance of the media and the invited agencies present in changing the public’s perception of NITA and how it has strayed from its core mandate of being the IT arm of the government of Ghana as well as the regulator within the ICT space in the country, and has instead been engaged in providing internet for government agencies.
Over seventy (70) participants attended the workshop, which included media personalities (morning show hosts and prominent journalists) as well as representatives from its parent ministry and the invited agencies, such as the National Communication Authority (NCA), Ghana Post, Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMET), Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission (PCSRC), Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence (AITI-KACE) and others.
He also spoke on efforts being made to ensure that IT-related gadgets brought into the country meet the required standards, and cited an example where NITA discovered through its own internal investigations that it had been supplied with out-of-date devices, thus saving his agency from incurring such loss.
The workshop had four presentations from NITA, NCA, CSA and Ghana Investment fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC). The presentations focused on the country’s digitalization journey thus far and how the agencies are working together to attain that goal. The necessity of Digital Infrastructure and how a nation need Connectivity, Payment Infrastructure, ID Infrastructure, and Data Infrastructure was emphasized.
The National Information Technology Agency (NITA), hosted a three-day Stakeholder workshop on formulating a regulatory framework for data center and cloud operations. The engagement, was cohosted by Smart Africa. The first session took place at the Accra City Hotel on February 20, 2024, and it hosted members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Communication, while the second and third sessions continued at the Mensvic Grand Hotel, East Legon, on February 21st and 22nd, 2024. Notable attendees included the Minister of Communications and Digitalization, Hon. Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, senior officials of NITA, Senior officials of Smart Africa, the lead from Salience Consulting, media representatives, stakeholders from selected government agencies, and other stakeholders from the data center ecosystem.
Addressing the participants, the Honourable Minister emphasized the escalating significance of data and how imperative it is to establish a governance framework. She highlighted Ghana’s active role in promoting the digital agenda globally. The Minister touted the creation of the 4-tier National Data Center by the Government of Ghana and the Government Cloud (G Cloud), which provides cloud services to governmental institutions.
The role of NITA, as the mandated National IT Regulator (covering Data Centres and Cloud services) as outlined in the NITA Act, 2008 (Act 771) and the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772), was highly recognized, as Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful envisioned Ghana evolving into a regional hub for data centers, and commended NITA for its unwavering commitment to overseeing effective Information Technology integration across diverse sectors in Ghana.
The Honourable Minister concluded by reiterating the potential benefits of fostering a robust data center industry, including enhancing the nation’s global competitiveness and facilitating the efficient delivery of essential services.
Mr. Solomon Richardson, Director of Technical Services at NITA who represented the Director General, addressed the stakeholders and said Acts 771 and 772 entrust NITA with the responsibility to regulate critical databases, emphasizing the significance of NITA’s role in the evolving digital landscape.
He hinted that NITA in 2024 will be rolling out several specific regulations to address specific areas in the ICT space. He indicated that this will improve the quality of service provided by service providers, and align Ghana’s ecosystem to international standards.
The Honourable Minister concluded by reiterating the potential benefits of fostering a robust data center industry, including enhancing the nation’s global competitiveness and facilitating the efficient delivery of essential services.
Mr. Solomon Richardson, Director of Technical Services at NITA who represented the Director General, addressed the stakeholders and said Acts 771 and 772 entrust NITA with the responsibility to regulate critical databases, emphasizing the significance of NITA’s role in the evolving digital landscape.
He hinted that NITA in 2024 will be rolling out several specific regulations to address specific areas in the ICT space. He indicated that this will improve the quality of service provided by service providers, and align Ghana’s ecosystem to international standards.
The Smart Workplace is a flagship initiative of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), designed to digitize and streamline communication and collaboration across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in Ghana. As part of the broader government digital transformation agenda, the Smart Workplace offers a suite of integrated tools aimed at improving efficiency, transparency, and service delivery within the public sector.
Key Features of the Smart Workplace
Security and Data Sovereignty Hosted on Ghana Government’s data infrastructure and managed by NITA, the Smart Workplace ensures compliance with national IT security standards, offering a safe environment for sensitive government data.
Email and Communication Services The platform provides secure government email services with official domains (e.g., @mda.gov.gh), ensuring professional and traceable communication among government staff and agencies.
Document Management and File Sharing Users can store, share, and collaborate on documents in real time, reducing reliance on physical paperwork. Version control and access permissions help maintain document integrity and security.
Virtual Meetings and Video Conferencing Through integrated video conferencing tools, Smart Workplace supports virtual meetings, webinars, and conferences, reducing the need for physical gatherings and improving coordination between teams.
Calendaring and Scheduling Built-in calendar tools allow for efficient scheduling of meetings, appointments, and deadlines, with the ability to sync across departments.
Task and Workflow Automation The platform supports digital workflows and approvals, enabling faster processing of memos, requests, and internal operations.
