As part of Ghana's commitment to provide access to information and communication technology (ICT) in a manner affordable in the country, the Ministry of Communication, in collaboration with Intel and Microsoft, have come together to implement a digital inclusion progamme to assist and advance in information society.

In pursuit of this, Intel and Microsoft have jointly showcased their plans for personal computers (PCs) designed and built specifically for the local markets.

The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who was the guest speaker at the launch of the Digital Inclusion Programme in Accra yesterday, noted that the digital inclusion would boost the PC home ownership scheme and would introduce affordable, locally assembled PCs onto the market.

"More significantly, it provides a great opportunity to bridge the divide. As we are well aware, bridging the digital divide and providing effective but affordable ICT infrastructure are key objectives of the world summit on the information society," he intoned.

The Vice President further indicated that digital inclusion would lead to a change in the quality of life for the people, adding that results at the macro level would be seen from growth in GDP led by a new climate of entrepreneurship and investment in jobs and in the economy.

The development of the PC named Discover, the first of its kind in the world, which may be available at a cost of $300, would offer a great opportunity to fast track human resource development for global age.

The minister for communication, Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah, in an interview with The Chronicle, said ICT holds the key to the attainment of the targets that the world has set for itself in the millennium development goals.

In Ghana, he noted that if we were to meet our developmental agenda, "We must mainstream ICT into our economic efforts. Only in this way can we achieve our two broad objectives of growing our economy and improving upon the devilry of government services to all".

Explaining further, Mr. Dapaah said it was the firm conviction of the NPP government that ICT could indeed significantly improve the station of life for all Ghanaians.

In this connection, government acknowledges that if the magic of ICT is good for the privileged ones and those who live in the urban and city centers, then it must be even better for the less privileged and those who live in the rural areas, he opined.

The newly appointed chairman of Microsoft West Africa, Dr. Cheick Diarra, told the paper that Microsoft is pleased to drive an understanding of ICT potentials in Ghana.

Microsoft, the chairman disclosed, would also be responsible for identifying ways in which it could continue to work across Africa through its existing progrmmes and initiatives.