Ministry of Communications
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MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2011 i Abbreviations MoC Ministry of Communications ICT Information and Communications Technology GPRS Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy GIFEC Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications ITES Information Technology Enabled Services GT Ghana Telecom LI Legislative Instrument MDAs Ministries, Departments and Agencies e-World Electronic World M & E Monitoring and Evaluation NDPC National Development Planning Commission GMA Ghana Meteorological Agency NCA National Communications Authority PCSRC Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission GI-KACE Ghana India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT CEO Chief Executive Officer ACEO Assistant Chief Executive Officer IDA International Development Association GoG Government of Ghana BPO Business Process Outsourcing GCNet Ghana Community Network PPP Public Private Partnership IRS Internal Revenue Service VAT Value Added Tax RFP Request for Proposal NITA National Information Technology Agency CICs Community Information Centres GEA Ghana Enterprise Architecture GASSCOM Ghana Association of Software Companies e-GIF Electronic Government Interoperability Framework GOVNet Government Network 3G Third Generation WIMAX Worldwide Interoperability Microwave Access GDP Gross Domestic Product UNCTAD United Nation Conference on Trade and Development UNDP United Nations Development Programme GRA Ghana Revenue Authority MNP Mobile Number Portability ii TABLE OF CONTENT PART ONE: Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………..……...1-2 PART TWO: Profile of Ministry…………………………………………………………………………..…………3 2.1 Mission…………………………………………………………………………………………………………3 2.2 Functions……………………………………………………………………………………………………..3 2.3 Broad Policy Objectives ………………..……………………………………………….……………..3 2.4 Strategies…………………………………………………………………………………………………….4 2.5 Organization Structure……………………………………………………..…………………………..5 2.6 Ministerial Setup………………………………….…………….……..………………………….……..6 2.7 Human Resource Analysis…………………..…………………………………………….…..6-8 2.7.1 Total Staff Strength (Appendix A1)……..……….……………………………..………6 2.7.2 Sex Ratio……………………………………………………………………………………….…6 2.7.3 HR Distribution (Appendix A2)… ………...…….……………………………………….6 2.7.4 Age Distribution………………………………………………………………………………7-8 2.7.5 Training & Development Undertaken (AppendixA3)…….…..……………………8 2.7.6 Promotion Undertaken………………..…………………………………………………….8 2.7.7 Postings Undertaken…………………………………………………………………………..8 2.7.8 Recruitment Undertaken…………………………...……………………………….………8 2.7.9 Staff Leaving the Service…………………………………………..……………….………8 2.7.10 Political & Administrative Heads (Appendix A4)…………………………….….…..9 2.7.11 Official Visits Undertaken (Appendix B)…………………………………………..……9 2.8 Sector/Institutional Specific Reform Agenda including Donor Funded programmes…………………………………………………..…………………………………..…..9 2.8.1 eGhana…………………………………………………..……………....……………….…....9 2.8.2 Background……………………………..…….……………….……………………….……..9 2.8.3 Component One: Enabling Environment……..………………..………………….10 2.8.4 Component Two: Support to Local ICT……………………………………………..10 2.8.5 Component Three: E-Government……………………………………..…………10-11 2.8.6 UNDP Partnership……………………………………………………………………….…..11 2.8.7 EXIM Bank of China Partnership……………………………………………………11-13 PART THREE: 3.0 Programme Deliveries (Appendix C1)……………………………….…14-19 PART FOUR: 4.0 Highlights of Sector Achievements (Appendix C2)……………..20-24 PART FIVE: 5.0 Financial Performance (AppendixD1)…………………………………….25-27 5.1 Financial Performance for 2010/2011…..…………………………………………..25 5.1.1 Comments on Financial Performance…………………….………………..…….26-27 PART SIX 6.0 Challenges/Mitigation Strategy (Appendix F) ………………..…...28-37 6.1 Challenges…………………………………………….……………………………………28 6.2 Forward Look for 2012……………………………………………………….………28-33 6.3 Summary of Achievements of Sector Agencies……………………………..34-37 APPENDICES……………………………………………………………………..…………………………38-54 iii PART ONE 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Ministry of Communications has the core responsibility of formulating policies aimed at initiating, facilitating and developing reliable and cost effective information communication infrastructure and services for the enhancement and promotion of economic competitiveness in line with the policy guidelines of Ghana’s Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II). In furtherance of this the Ministry of Communications (MOC) is pursuing a vision of Government for the ICT sector that will encourage the effective use of ICT for public service delivery, provision of better services for civil society, the private sector and individuals in a more efficient, effective and transparent manner that will bridge the digital divide between the rural and urban communities. In pursuit of this, the Ministry oversees the development of policies related to the operational and regulatory frameworks and systems covering nine (9) organizations including the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) in addition to its numerous stakeholders in the private sector. With regard to Universal Access and service provision for all, GIFEC has been facilitating the extension of communications services to underserved and unserved areas in the country in an equitable manner. In furtherance of Government’s policy to enhance the telecom sector, the Ministry in the year under review pursued the facilitation of the implementation of the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) to cater for the choice of customers’ at the telecom sector. In addition, the Ministry continued in giving policy directives to guide the migration from the analogue to digital broadcasting in line with international convergence standards. As part of the developmental programmes of the Ministry, the eGhana project which was developed in collaboration with the World Bank continues to support the IT Enabled Services sector and also contribute to improved transparency of selected government functions. The project under implementation has three (3) components namely: (i) an enabling environment, (ii) support to local ICT businesses and ITES in Ghana and (iii) e-government, to ensure greater efficiency, transparency and accountability in selected MDAs. The eGhana Project supported by the World Bank is an integral part of the Ministry and will continue to assist the Ministry in project management. In addition the monitoring and evaluation Unit assisted in the implementation of automation of revenue agencies through a PPP arrangement and will continue with the rest to help generate adequate revenue for government. 1 The establishment of centralized data centre for the storage of vital information for national development is an important agenda, which the Ministry will continue to pursue. The National Data Centre will ensure effective applications of ICT to facilitate government business when completed. The role of Ghana Meteorological Agency in providing scientific services towards weather and climatic monitoring in support of the agric sector, aviation industry and other relevant sectors of the economy has been effectively carried out. Also being pursued vigorously is the human capacity development in the core skills in ICT/Telecom being undertaken by the Ghana-India Kofi-Annan ICT Centre of Excellence and the GT University College with the compliment efforts of the private sector. Communication by post continues to be an essential service, which in the era of ICT and technological evolution is being pursued by Ghana Post and allied industry players. To enable the industry perform efficiently and effectively, the Ministry will continue in pursuing the enactment into law the national postal policy that will facilitate the transformation of the industry and also help in addressing the challenges associated with the industry as we gravitate towards e-world. The Ministry is laying specific emphasis on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and it will continue to address the core issue of monitoring the performance management systems of the entire sector in the years ahead. Regarding infrastructure development, the Ministry will vigorously pursue the deployment of the e-government applications in 2012 to serve government institutions and additional 1600 government departments to enable the citizens have access to efficient and effective service delivery. This initial phase of the project is being executed with a US$ 30 million facility from the EXIM Bank of China. 2 PART TWO 2.0 PROFILE OF MINISTRY 2.1 Mission Ministry of Communications exists to facilitate the development of a reliable and cost effective world-class communications infrastructure and services, driven by appropriate technological innovations to enhance the promotion of economic competitiveness in a knowledge-based environment. 2.2 Functions Initiate and formulate policies taking into account the needs and aspirations of the people Undertake development planning in consultation with the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) Coordinate, monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the performance of the sector Specifically, Development of the telecommunications, postal, courier and meteorological services sector Accessibility to and application of information technologies as well as development and enhancement of human capability in the use and application of information technologies Improvement in the performance of ICT institutions, especially broadcasting (technical), Internet especially in encouraging high technical and professional standards and financial/investor support for the sector. 2.3 Broad Policy Objectives and Strategies The following key