Telecom/ ICT in Ghana

- a longterm collaboration (1989- )

DDRN Public seminar:South-North research cooperation at Aalborg University

Copenhagen

Thursday 23 May 2019

1

Knud Erik Skouby

CMI

2

Lib. LAN

(Accra)

HF

Link HF

Modem

HF

Modem

HF Modem

Microwave

Router

Uni. LAN

(Accra)

VHF

Modem

VHF

Modem

Winneba HF

Modem

Medical university

(Korlebu)

Tamale

Kumasi

CSIR

Microwave

Router

VHF

Link

Microwave

Router

Internet Backbone

(Denmark)

VSAT

Link

Optical Fiber

Link

Cape Coast

Microwave

Link

UNDP-LAN

University of

Hergeisa

Micro wave

Ministry of

Planning

64 Kbit

128 Kbit

Placed at UNDP

Earth station

in Denmark

Internet Backbone

(Denmark)

Micro wave

Lib. LAN

(Accra)

Uni. ring

Local

ISP

64 Kbit/s

(Radio Link)

Optical fibre

Institutions People

Period I (1989- 2003)

ENRECA based (partly)

1. TTC (PORSPI, STEPRI)

2. Univ of Ghana, Legon

Period II (2005- )

No DANIDA finances

3) GTUC

People, through-going

Morten Falch

Anders Henten

Reza Tadayoni

‘Other’

CMI staff

Teachers, DTU incl Erik

Baark & ‘Energy Group’

TAP, DTU

3

Periode I (1) Technology Assessment in Ghana:

Building Capabilities TTC (PORPI, STEPRI)

Two aspects: ‘energy’; IT/ telecom

Surveys, research reports – DK researchers at TTC

TTC staff in DK: competence upgrade/ master studies

1st spin off: colleaboration with DK Savings Banks assoc incl ‘trainingof trainers

Clash with the TTC Director

2 issues

‘the Director’

Inexperience in the Danish team

Transfer to University of Ghana, Legon 1992

4

Period I (2)

Dept of Physics prime collaborator

‘Some’ interest for energy – solar/ wind

Minor projects

Limited interest/ capacity for IT/ telecom

‘Main topics’

Per diems/ project car

‘energy pulled out’

5

Period I (2 cont.)

From 1994/ 95 ‘only’ ICT – limited evironment

‘stand alone’, one semester courses in Network Management

Turning point: Sadowski report to USAID

Followed by DK Embassy grant to ‘uni ring’

6

Lib. LAN

(Accra)

Uni. ring

Local

ISP

64 Kbit/s

(Radio Link)

Optical fibre

Period I (2 cont.)

New level: contact to IFLA/ library project

7

Lib. LAN

(Accra)

HF

Link HF

Modem

HF

Modem

HF M

odem

Microwave

Router

Uni. LAN

(Accra)

VH

F

Modem

VHF

Modem

Winneba HF

Modem

Medical university

(Korlebu)

Tamale

Kumasi

CSIR

Microwave

Router

VHF

Link

Microwave

Router

Internet Backbone

(Denmark)

VSAT

Link

Optical Fiber

Link

Cape Coast

Microwave

Link

UNDP-LAN

University of

Hergeisa

Micro wave

Ministry of

Planning

64 Kbit

128 Kbit

Placed at UNDP

Earth station

in Denmark

Internet Backbone

(Denmark)

Micro wave

UNIDO net i Hargeisa

Period I (2 cont.)

The ENRECA project extended/ renewed – based on the spin off’s (1998- 02/ 03)

Invigorated as TAP

The Uni-net rolled out – established as ‘REN’

Acknowledged in Ghana

8

Period II

No DANIDA financing after 2004

Approached by GTUC

MoU 2005 to establish Master programme

MICT (1) 2006: 16 stud’s

MICT (2) 2008: 15 stud’s

9

Period II (cont.)

PhD programme

10 PhDs enrolled – arrive in DK 2010

12 PhDs graduated

7 in the pipeline

Substantial/ the biggest ICT programme in Ghana

Graduates in ‘high level positions’

10

Conclusion

After start-up phase – a couple of years (!), positive selfevaluation

Non-insignificant impact on three areas

1. Implementation of ICT infrastructure for the traditionalresearch institutions/ universities from a ‘zero-situation’

2. Implementation of ICT training/ education programme at an ‘early stage’ – for several levels

3. Promotion of ICT research

11