GrassRoots Hub in partnership with Ghana Tech Lab has organised a Consultative Stakeholders Meeting under the theme ‘The Role Of Web Development For Digital Transformation Of The Local Economy For Job Creation And Economic Development’.
The participants were selected from various sectors of the entrepreneurship ecosystem and grouped under six pillars; that is, support, human capital, market, government and legislation, finance and media and culture. The Co-founder and Executive Director of GrassRoots Hub, Emmanuel Marfo, said his outfit is Ghana’s first innovation lab and incubation space dedicated to social impact such as promoting the SDGs.
He added that the consultative stakeholder meeting is part of GrassRoots Hub’s mission to nurture social entrepreneurs, incubate and support innovations on SDGs and philanthropy for social good. He asserts, “If only 25% of businesses in the Bono region have website then this GTL Base program is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to get registered and learn to add web technology to their operations to transform the local economy and create jobs for the unemployed youth and graduates”.
Further, he explained that the consultative stakeholder meeting was to bring stakeholders together in a collaborative effort to outline the challenges, gaps and opportunities in the existing market that will serve as a guideline to develop a comprehensive strategic policy to transform the local economy.
“This is to help gather consensus on how best to take advantage of the Web Development Training Program to transform the local economy to achieve sustainable development with digital skills and entrepreneurship”, he added.
Speaking on behalf of the Regional Minister, Prisca Andaye emphasized on the importance of the use of Web technology, adding, “Ghana is gradually digitizing the economy to promote Sustainable Development; this includes the introduction of the National ID card, the National Digital Addressing System and digitalization of the process of clearing goods at the port”.
She noted: “For this reason I commend this partnership between GrassRoots Hub and the Ghana Tech Lab. Therefore, I express my support towards the Web Development Training Program, and further acknowledge that the initiative is in the right direction for a Ghana Beyond Aid”.
Also addressing the audience, the Regional Director for the National Youth Authority (NYA), spoke of how Web Development contribute greatly to the socio-economic development efforts.
She said, “the National Youth Policy provide the opportunity for government to engage in partnerships to contribute to youth development, and as part of the partnership that the Authority has with GrassRoots Hub for the Web Technology Training Program, we provided laptops to help facilitate a smooth and impactful training program”.
Julius Asante, the CEO of Pesewa Web-soft Ghana, highlighted on the disruptions Web Technologies are making in various industries. He explained that Web Technology is significantly connecting cities when it comes to marketing and network building.
The sharing of information as well as communication is greatly improved among people with the help to Web Technologies, especially during this era where COVID-19 has made it imperative for people to be abreast with information. Commenting on the Policy brief session, the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Technical Lead at GrassRoots Hub – Andrews Kofi Akoto-Addo, called on participants to give recommendations on challenges in their sector in making the web development training program a catalyst for business development and economic growth.
To this end, Janat Issifu who is the Hub Manager for GrassRoots Hub expressed profound gratitude to the stakeholders and encouraged them to spread the news about program. This is a free intensive six-week web development training, which will end with a paid internship opportunity and incubation support services’’.
The initiative is under the Pathway to Sustainable Development (PaSE) Program, with partners including, the MasterCard Foundation (Young Africa Works Initiative), the World Bank, and the Ministry of Communications, Ghana.
Source: Daily Mail GH
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