SECTOR 2 2.11 The country has a coherent ICT policy and/or the government implements promotional measures, which aim to meet the information needs of all citizens, including marginalised communities. There is an ICT policy, called the Ghana ICT for Accelerated Development (ICT4AD) Policy, which was developed in 2003 under the National Development Planning Commission. There is general awareness of this policy in the general populace, but this is limited to certain sections of the policy. Increased coverage of the policy over the last two years has helped publicise the policy. Implementation of the policy has started and is ongoing, and certain parts are only “starting to come on board now”. The automation and computerisation of government documents or processes has started, and government is “getting its business online”. Ghana has set a 2014 deadline for the digital migration of the GBC for both radio and television broadcasting, and a national deadline of 2015. In this regard, the Ministry of Communication has earmarked 60 million GHC (USD 27 million) for changing television sets. Because reach is limitless with digitisation, the way in which content can be diversified is also becoming a key part of this, as information can be broadcast over several channels. In recognising the importance of the media in creating global linkages, more media entities are coming online. The Daily Dispatch, for example, will be launching a website in 2013, with the aim of increasingly impacting on economic and policy analysis. The e-governance programme is being implemented in phases; and a conscious effort is made so that “the next generation is knowledgeable on ICT and is much better than five years ago”. The aspect of the policy that Ghanaians are most happy about is being integrated into education, and making sure that young people are capable in ICT use. “There are people in government who are afraid to turn on their own PCs”. “There is a national consciousness and concrete effort towards the application of ICT in education, and the training of teachers has also been factored into this.” The government is collaborating with RLG2 Ghana to supply 60,000 laptops in a year, and to train youth and teachers in ICT. 2 38 RLG Ghana is a Ghanaian communications company which produces communications equipment (e.g. “such as mobile handsets, electronic notebooks, tablets, laptops, LCD TV monitors and other accessories”) and provides training in ICT-related disciplines. (http://www.rlgghana.com/index.php/about/background.html) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER GHANA 2013