Profile of navrongo community information center.

Introduction

Location of Navrongo,

Navrongo is located in the kassena nankana district of the upper east region.

Objectives of the CIC

Project objectives:

• To assist in bridging the digital divide between rural and urban areas.

• To provide community information needs and enhance national integration.

• To create ICT awareness in the rural areas.

• To disseminate information to the rural communities especially in areas of health, local government, environment, agriculture etc.

• To provide opportunity for ICT training in the communities,

• To support business activities in the rural communities by providing market information on improved agricultural production, and extension services.

• Support for community-based organisations through promotion of workshops and publication resources.


1.3 A brief history and profile of navrongo CIC
World resources have been unevenly distributed especially in recent times. This has led to the grouping of economies into first, second and third world countries. Ghana is described as a third world country though quite close to the ranks of the second world. However, it is the belief of the people and government that the progress a nation makes is not always a ritual and thus there is the possibility of a leap in development. Ghana is still a basic agrarian economy making it seem very far from the advanced world which is mainly an information economy. However, it is common belief among policy makers and citizens that there can be some leap frogging in developing in this regard.
The Government of Ghana, therefore, through the Ministry of Communication decided to set up centers where the provision of ICT services and other community services especially related to development and communication related information can be sourced. The strategy adopted to achieve this feat is the establishment of Community Information Centres (CICs) ultimately in all the 230 constituencies in Ghana. The objective is to replicate miniature kinds of the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Advanced Information Technology Centre of Excellence in all corners of the country. The Ghana – India Kofi Annan Advanced Information Technology Centre of Excellence is an internationally standard bearing ultra modern ICT center that serves not only Ghana but the entire subregion with ICT and related services.

The Navrongo (also known as Navoro) CIC is one of the established centers in the country. In January 2007, the center was launched and started operations. Currently, the center runs with a server, 5 desktop computers, and a housed in a building connected to the national electricity grid. Funding for the startup was as a result of a collaboration between the Ministry of Communication and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This was to kick start the center while nurturing it to the full realisation of self sustainability in the medium to long term.
In April 2008 the center was connected to the broadband internet connectivity.

Human resource
Two staff has been at post since the establishment of the centre; the Manager and a Support Staff (Secretary). They have been battling through the jerky growth of the centre.
Both members of staff are adequately skilled in the basics of computer operations and maneuvering. Additionally, the center manager is certified by the national institute of information technology and has skills in computer hardware and basic to intermediate network troubleshooting and setup.


Key Strengths of the Narongo CIC
l Strategic location
l Very moderate and competitive service charges
l Modern computers

Opportunities available for tapping
l Possible networking with similar institutions
l navrongo is a 'virgin' land for the provision of ICT based services due to poor infrastructure
l Most clients seem dedicated to using the services of the center
l Youth employment programme has ICT component. A center would be required for the training. The CIC is well placed to generate income from that