Importance of ICT Archives - Lit Empowerment Support

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The Importance of ICT In Governance, Security, and Safety Issues

July 15, 2022

by litempowermentspt@gmail.com with No Comment Awarness Education

Importance of Security

Governance, security, and safety issues in the societies of our world have been through many phases and are very important. The security of nations and their people, especially in these times, when religious fundamentalism and extremism, and terrorism are on the increase is very paramount. Nations and their governments will stop at nothing to ensure that their people are safe, and that, their territorial integrity is never breached. Governance issues are more than before been discussed and scrutinized.

Good Governance

Good governance is an issue of global interest. The Fraternity of nations means that whatever happens in Afghanistan is of equal concern to the world just like what happens in Guinea. No business wants to invest and base in an unsafe country. Job seekers do not enjoy working in an unsafe environment.

In this article, I shall discuss the role and impact of ICT in Governance, security, and safety issues.

Some Merits of ICT in the Governing and Security “ Business”

ICT helps reduce or combat corruption in governance. In Rwanda, it is an established fact that, in order to check corruption and improve efficiency and transparency, a lot of the human interface has been removed and replaced by digital interfaces eg., in the acquisition of land, the process has been automated. The automation of the tax regime is another way of ensuring efficiency, transparency and accountability. By effectively deploying ICT in governance, citizenship participation can also be greatly enhanced.

Security alarm systems and tracking devices are preventing and tracking thefts and criminals. National security apparatus of nations rely heavily on ICT-based gadgets to detect security threats, including terror threats. Critical installations are fitted with IT tools so as to protect them. Militaries of advanced nations are deploying precision missiles, drones, and even robotic dogs among others for maneuvers and surveillance.

Ghana as a Case Study

During the 2021 Ghana housing and population census, enumerators were trained on how to do their enumeration using tablets. This has not been the story growing up in Ghana. The enumerators in times past used to do their work using forms in hardcopy. That certainly took more time and was more difficult to do. Citizen participation was greatly enhanced too. Elections around the world, especially in Ghana have seen a taste of ICT as verification was done digitally in the 2020 general elections. The drawing of policies has not been this easy.

ICT In Day-to-Day Administration of Regional and Sub Regional Peace and Cooperation

Information handling and dissemination have become easier. Governments around the world have websites with loads of relevant information for the public. It is common to behold world leaders and leaders of nations even within West Africa holding important deliberations on current trendy political issues like the coup in Guinea via conferencing apps such as Zoom, Skype, etc.

Louder Voices of the Masses in Decision Making By ICT

With ICT, particularly, on social media, the governed or the ruled can be heard more conspicuously as they make their opinions known. Debating controversial policies to see if they sit well with the populace or not before rollout has also become more popular with the citizens because of social media and digital TV and radio.

The Digital Divide a Real Challenge

Now, how do the young people of developing countries especially, position themselves so as to be able to continue to use ICT, whether as the governed or governing to positively impact society in governance, security and safety matters? They, no doubt need to have some form of ICT knowledge, skills, and competencies. It is however very well known that many developing countries are not able to provide the necessary environment in their basic schools to satisfy this condition.

Lit Empowerment and Support Incorporated as a Wheel to Bridging the Digital Divide

To help create this ICT learning Environment in their own small way, Lit Empowerment and Support Incorporated, a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization that focuses on alleviating the plight of impoverished schools in the area of ICTs in Ghana, hereby respectfully calls on anyone that wishes and is capable to join them in this noble cause by providing any form of assistance to it.

The assistance could be in the form of cash donations, grants, sponsorships, partnerships, donations of ICT and IT tools, facilities such as ICT Labs, etc. Lit Empowerment Support Incorporated believes that, together, they would be able to help position some young people to actually take advantage of ICT to positively impact society in governance, security, and safety matters.

More Merits of ICT in Governance and Security, safety-Policing

Again, citizens have in recent times been able to put a searchlight on the activities of law enforcers (police) with regard to excesses while performing their duties. Cell phones with built-in cameras enable this. Body cams of security personnel elsewhere in the world have aided investigations and provided answers to pertinent questions about certain crimes and occurrences that would have been hard to solve minus the body cams. Some advanced countries are seriously conceiving and piloting groundbreaking innovations in fire fighting and emergency situations.

Early Warning Systems

Early warning systems are being deployed to forewarn jurisdictions of impending imminent natural disasters. Earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, tornadoes, and such like them. In social security, ICTs are helping nations manage and use funds more profitably. In monitoring and evaluation, the GES and other agencies have taken to ICT. Facial and hand recognition technologies are being built as security features for critical installations and infrastructure. Need I say more?

Educational Content and Broadcasts

During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Ghana, the government kept in touch with the people closely, giving updates and announcing interventions. The Ghana public broadcaster, GBC was tasked to do public broadcasts of curriculum instructions for all students at home due to the lockdown. Schools that had basic IT tools resorted to virtual classrooms to teach their pupils and students. Currently, there’s a raffle draw being run by The Daily Graphic, the number one state-owned daily newspaper on its anniversary. A man in far away Sunyani won a car because he was able to enter the draw by means of his cell phone.

ICT in Health Insurance Administration

Still, in Ghana, the much-acclaimed health insurance scheme has taken a digital dimension. Clients can perform some actions right on their phones, tabs, and laptops without necessarily visiting the NHIS National Health Insurance offices. All of these innovations in ICT have the ability to promote transparency, lower corruption tendencies, and increase citizen participation and efficiency.

ICT, A Standard For Living

June 15, 2022

by litempowermentspt@gmail.com with No Comment Awarness Education

ICT is an extensional term for information technology (IT)that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications (telephone lines, wireless signals)and computers as per IFGICT as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual that enable users to access, store, transmit, understand and manipulate information as per the international federation of ICT.

The term ICT is also used to refer to the convergence of audiovisual and telephone networks through a single cabling or link system.

The first commercial computer, developed by John Eckert and John Mauchly in 1951, was used to predict the 1952 US Presidential Elections.1972 saw another milestone in the evolution of computers. Since that time, I CT has evolved and become a standard of living globally.

ICT is basically the ish now. Everything on our planet now revolves around ICTs. It is almost impossible to live life these days without them.

It is common knowledge that peers of young persons who in this day and era do not possess smartphones are despised either openly or cunningly. Such a young person may be categorized as anti-tech or not trendy. Smartphones are not only tech savvy but also trendy equipment. They do not only help us communicate, stay in touch and work easily but also, add to our prestige. Even though, some poor or average people go to any length to own expensive smartphones, having them may be a sign of affluence or sophistication.

Desktops have quickly and effectively replaced the typewriter. Not only are they a perfect fit for any modern office, they are actually office assistants, doing a wide range of tasks. In the office space, desktops have the ability to download huge volumes of data and can process and send info in a twinkle of an eye. Desktop computers are able to create files and folders in insane volumes.

Laptops are another breed of tech savvy ICT gadgets that have all the functionalities of a desktop, and even more. One quality of the laptop that stands tall is its portability. It is so portable that a man can carry twenty pieces on the organizing an office has not been this convenient and exciting. There should be no excuse for anyone, especially in the developing countries to try to sidestep the use of computers based on lack of access or inability to use computers.

What the people of developing countries should be doing is to swim along the ICT tide. The misconception that one day, things would improve just by themselves is fast dwindling in probability. Governments on one hand can/will not be able to provide all the needed access. That is why numerous organizations have popped up with the view of augmenting what governments have done in their nations in the ICT regard.

Lit Empowerment and Support Incorporated is one such non-governmental, non-profit organization that has appeared on the horizon to assist rural basic schools in Ghana to stem the ICT tide. Since the organization is a non-profit making, it lacks financial strength for the execution of all the projects it might want to undertake. It is in this vane that Lit implores philanthropists and organizations to come to their aid by means of grants, sponsorships, partnerships, and donations as they try their best to lift up the underprivileged in ICT. This is one of the ways by which populations of developing countries can measure up to the ICT standard.

ICTs have become part and parcel of our lives. Their use cut across every area of human endeavor. In agriculture, agriculture is

making inroads and thriving. Then, there’s eHealth, E-commerce, and e-learning. Virtually, e-everything. Any attempt to avoid ICT would mean resorting to living like it used to be during the stone age. In governance and security, CT plays a major role. Just name them.

Home appliances and gadgets have either evolved from analog to digital or come in digital exclusively. In transport and travel, CT exists. In the gaming and entertainment business and in religion, ICT has become the niche. Religious houses via ICT are able to garner gifts and offerings. Even during the COVID-19 lockdown period, most of these religious houses were able to reach their devotees with their teachings consistently and constantly by means of IT tools. It is manifestly clear that ICT has become the standard for living. There is no denying this fact.

It’s therefore very important that everyone, especially those in developing countries to strive hard to close the digital gap. This, they need to do so that their people are not automatically rendered unproductive by the proliferation of ICT. Yes, one needs no prophet, diviner or soothsayer to be able to decode what would inevitably take place in ,for example a decade, when people continue to walk about without computer usage skills whether it’s their making or not.

ICT is a standard for living. It is either people strive to attain the standard or fall below the mark. There is no middle ground.

The Important Of ICT In Job Creation – Especially For The Youth

June 15, 2022

by litempowermentspt@gmail.com with No Comment Awarness Education

Job creation, according to the free dictionary.com is the process by which the number of jobs in an economy increases. Governments may roll out measures that reduce unemployment. The Private Sector does create jobs too.

The International Labor Organization (I.L.O.)asserts that, in sub-Saharan Africa, unemployment rates remain relatively low, as the vast majority of employable active youth cannot afford not to work. The UN agency states further that, of the 38.1 percent of the estimated total working poor in sub-Saharan Africa, young people account for 23.5 percent.

The World Population Review defines the unemployment rate as the percentage of unemployed workers in the total labor force. By extension, therefore, the unemployment rate includes workers who currently do not work, although they can.

It is certain that unemployment rates have a close correlation with job creation. It is obvious that the more jobs are created, the more people get employed. Numerous jobs exist and can be created in the different sectors of the economy.

One major area that has the potential to churn out a good number of jobs in the ICT Sector. Apart from the common ICT jobs such as ICT teaching, the many money transfer services, and remote jobs, there are more jobs created by ICT Knowledge and Skills, especially for the youth.

These are some of them: Computer Service Technicians. They may also be referred to as Computer Repair Technicians. They repair computer hardware and software. Another is Cyber Security Specialists. They may be referred to as Cyber Security Analysts.

They protect computer networks and systems. There is also a Data Analyst. Data Analysts develop insight and get information through the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. They may also be called academic data Analysts.Mallory.com.au outlines more of such jobs. Data Centre Technicians. A data center technician maintains computer hardware networks and data servers.

They basically keep a company’s data safe and secure. A Data Scientist is almost the same as a data analyst. A data scientist however is expected to use advanced programming skills more often. They build complex behavioral models using big data. A Database Administrator sees to database security, integrity, and performance. They ensure data standards are consistent, data is accessible by users as needed. They also solve any problems encountered by users.

It’s quite plain that ICT has become a powerful force in job creation in general and for the youth especially. It is therefore imperative that the youth take advantage of these openings to secure gainful, lasting jobs for themselves. One fact that remains is that these are fields that require higher learning and intricate training.

These are skills and competencies that cannot be mastered easily by roadside apprentices or basic and senior high school leavers. With the professions outlined by mallory.com.au so far, anyone can conclude that even the sky is not a limit when it comes to the Importance of ICT in job creation, especially for the youth.

Another profession under ICT is Database Analyst. This group of professionals design, evaluate, review and implement databases. They primarily analyze gathered information. They may be hired to maintain and update existing databases. Then there are hardware engineers.

Also termed computer hardware engineers, they supervise the manufacture and installation of computer systems, services, circuit boards, and chips, as well as the testing of equipment. It is a very lucrative field. They also work with routers, printers, and keyboards.

An IT Consultant is an experienced and confident professional who finds work by competing for service contracts. They are mostly independent contractors but sometimes, they are into regular employment with large manufacturers of software, software, and systems houses and management consultancy firms. They can find clients across most industries.

The seven or so ICT professions outlined in this article can easily be employed by international organizations, government agencies, corporate bodies, financial and educational institutions, security setups, and even ICT firms, etc.

Individuals with requisite ICT skills, knowledge, and competencies can set up their own business to provide services such as SEO setup and auditing and ERP set up and maintenance, web design, building and management, and so on. Opportunities abound in social media management, digital marketing, email marketing, and lead generation.

The truth just remains that, our world is now an ICT world. Correspondingly, immeasurable opportunities thrive. Job creation has never been this widespread. Thanks to ICT.

Lit Empowerment and Support Incorporated has come on the scene to contribute its widow’s mite to the ICT Job creation evolution by empowering the youth, especially, those in the developing countries with Ghana as the focal point, so that they can take their destinies in their own hands to reduce poverty to it’s the barest minimum and eventual expulsion.

Lit implores all and sundry to join it and promote this agenda by assisting it in any way possible; sponsorships, grants, partnerships, donations of IT equipment, and training in ICT of the less privileged communities and their schools so as to realize this dream of job creation in ICT.

REFERENCES

Global Employment Trends For Youth 2020:Africa-I.L.O.

Mallory.com.au

The Free Dictionary.com

World Population Review

Global Employment Trends For Youth 2020:Africa-I.L.O.

The Gender Digital Divide

June 15, 2022

by litempowermentspt@gmail.com with No Comment Awarness Education

What’s gender digital divide?

The gender digital divide is defined as gender biases coded into technology products, the technology sector, and digital skills education. A different source defines the subject as the inequalities between men and women in terms of access to information and communications technologies.

Causes of the gender digital divide

There are many causes of the gender digital divide. However, for the purposes of this article, I would like to mention the following: Inequitable access to education and negative social stereotypes that thrive in the “offline” environment and impact digital realities and possible benefits for women and girls.

Other causes include, but are not limited to, socioeconomic biases, such as gender wage disparities and dependence on male relatives in some countries. Also, isolation and absence of equality i.e. nations with bad track records in gender issues in education, income, political power, and cultural practices. I cannot overlook the fact that there is no relevant content for women and girls.

Trends in the gender digital divide across our world

The gender digital divide concerning internet access remains top most in the world’s least advanced nations at 32.9%. This internet deficit is biggest in Africa whilst, pertaining to cell phone ownership, the gender digital divide is more conspicuous in South Asia where females are 26% less likely to own handsets than males. It is evident that immeasurably serious inequalities exist in access to the internet, digital skills, and online rights across developing countries.

Crisscrossing urban impoverished communities in ten cities, Lagos, Nairobi, Jakarta, and Bogota inclusive, females were found to be 50% less likely than males to be online.30-50% of women in those same communities are less likely than men to use the internet.

How does the gender digital divide affect our society?

The gender digital divide negatively impacts nations’ propensity for economic growth and developmental progress. Women and girls not getting involved in creating digital tools and online content may aggravate pervading inequalities. Without technological and internet access, girls and women cannot take part fairly in our ever-changing digital society. It is not an overstatement to declare that the gender digital divide affects every facet of the life of girls and women including their ability to speak out and campaign on issues that affect them.

An organization with a heart of gold

Since the internet and computers are powerful tools for economic and political empowerment, many entities and individuals have, and are still trying to help the disadvantaged peoples, schools and communities of our world, especially in Africa, to surmount the huge mountain of lack of access and connectivity inequalities that exist here.

One such organization is the Lit Empowerment and Support Incorporated based in Ghana and the United States of America. Lit Empowerment and Support Incorporated, a non-profit, non-governmental organization seeks to assist bridge the digital gap in deprived inner cities and rural communities by presenting ICT Labs and/or IT tools to schools and needy students in such neighborhoods.

It is in this vane that Lit Empowerment and Support Incorporated is appealing for assistance from governments of nations, states, provinces and regions, philanthropists, businesses, institutions, and individuals to partner and sponsors whole or parts of ICT labs. You could also donate IT tools for which the poor people who benefit from your kindness and generosity will remain forever grateful.

Why the gender digital divide must be bridged

The UN Women’s Action Plan to close the digital gender split notes that: “Women’s equal and meaningful participation in the digital society is seen as both integral to the realization of a just, inclusive and rights-based information society and to achieve objectives around gender equality and women’s empowerment by 2030.”Bridging the gender digital gap catalyzes economic freedom, promotes good health, and enhances quality education, among many others.

The Importance of ICT In Agriculture

June 15, 2022

by litempowermentspt@gmail.com with No Comment Awarness Education

What is Agriculture?

Agriculture is basically the art and business of tilling the land and keeping animals for food. As a term, agriculture also includes the production of trees as cash crops. Therefore, a greater definition of agric might read, the art, science, and business of tilling the land, keeping animals, rearing fish, and engaging in afforestation, for the purposes of food or income, or export.

In as much as the above definition is concerned, it might seem that fishing also falls under agriculture in many jurisdictions. Agriculture is one major issue of interest globally, and, should be for, especially, the still, almost sometimes retrogressing economies of African states in general and West African states in particular.

All around the globe, serious Agribusiness as a subject and trade has evolved from the industrial revolution stage of world agriculture I call it, to the scientific stage that saw massive technological inventions in Agribusiness in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the rest.

I dare say that studying current trends, Agribusiness has inched from just technology to I C T, in the form of agriculture where animal farms, crop farms, and all the other variables that fall under agriculture can now take advantage of ICT to leverage production by deploying IT tools to grow profitability, benefit from early warning systems, apply manure, and/or chemical ferts, insecticides, pesticides, security and administration of farms or Agri businesses.

Maximizing Agriculture

To fully maximize the potential in agriculture for those vulnerable nations of the so-called third world, especially those in Africa, it is expedient that governments invest hugely in agriculture. Companies and individuals investing in agriculture must be ready to push in substantial amounts of resources so as to yield the kind of returns that ensure that you are able to earn huge foreign exchange on your tailored products and surplus. ICT Systems and tools that run and support other systems to run accurately and efficiently so that in conjunction with other scientific and technological systems and processes, a farmer can produce as much as possible to feed the nations.

Maximizing Agriculture In Conjunction with ICTs

It is only when nations are able to feed themselves that they can easily enter a time of prosperity and abundance. There are IT TOOLS and systems that can help farmers in this regard. In a smart poultry farm, for example, there may be an automated regulatory system among others, to regulate temperature, move special conveyor belts to gather and collect eggs, feed, provide medication and even process broilers and other stuff for sales and delivery to consumers. In crop production, IT Tool-based control panels of modern farm machinery and equipment such as tractors, combine harvesters, planters, even helis, and airplanes that do some spraying of chemicals, etc. In the processing sector of agribusiness, sophisticated precision equipment is being built on ICTs. This is amazing. These IT-based technologies promote mass production, maximize time, lower error margins, and so on. When the above variables are fulfilled, overall production goes up.

Bringing The Young Local Farmer Along With ICT

The ideas and opportunities in the paragraph above might be capital intensive. The doors to the poor community farmer are not shut up in their faces. Local smallholder farmers can benefit from information dissemination drives on ordinary cell phones, pads, and smartphones. Government interventions and programs geared at improving agric output run campaigns on digital radios and TVs. There are many portals and apps that help farmers do many different things including selling their produce to larger markets.

How ICT Ups The Farmers Game

Agric extension officers and general agric staff are getting equipped with IT TOOLS in order that their work may be easier, efficient, and more beneficial to the farmer. An average farm manager should be able to run a farm by, for example, organizing and holding meetings of staff who are even not in the same geographical area. Several IT tools make that possible. In an afforestation program, drones could be deployed to the top of tall trees to bring back photo shots and specimen samples for further studies and forensics.

Challenges

The tendency for humans to shy away from what they find difficult to access is natural. It is true that the literate might find operating IT tools more convenient but the truth stands tall that he who has access to computers and IT tools will naturally grow an attachment to these modern devices. Access also demystifies certain misconceptions relating to computers and IT tools.

It is this issue of access and lack of access that has spurred on Lit Empowerment and Support Incorporated to try and put bits and pieces together to help young Africans, especially Ghanaians have some access to computers and IT tools so that beneficiaries can actually have some exposure on computer usage. This initial access and training have the propensity to put these young people in a foundational setting, poised for any opportunity to build on, especially in the areas of livelihoods and how to improve productivity.

Lit Empowerment and Support Incorporated is a non-governmental non-profit organization that seeks to consolidate the ICT base of communities through schools. Lit Empowerment would be more than grateful to receive grants, donations, and any assistance, partnership, or sponsorship so as to forward to impoverished schools in impoverished communities in order to help alleviate their plight.

ICT,A Way of Life?

ICT has become a way of life. We are not going to see backtracking of this situation but rather, an improvement. The people of developing countries must be sensitized on the need to get used to ICTs in every area of their lives. ICT has become a very important integral part of our lives. Its use is developmental, not detrimental. Local populations must understand that adopting ICTs in every area of their lives is the way to go.

More Functions of ICT In Agriculture Production

In livestock production, for instance, small but powerful chips are put on animals for different purposes and at different times. Some chips might be attached to an animal to track its movement, monitor infections and any other reason for which the chip is implanted.

The agriculture sector is important and must be treated as such. In conjunction with ICTs, opportunities abound in the sector. In Ghana, for example, more than 60% of the population is said to be subsistent farmers. A radical approach to the traditional methods of farming can turn thousands and millions of tracks of land into green productive fields with the potential of feeding the people and for export.

The Importance of ICT in Quality Health Delivery

June 15, 2022

by litempowermentspt@gmail.com with No Comment Awarness Health

What Is Health?

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity. All over the world, health care remains a priority. Nations and authorities around the world who fail to invest in the health of their people are often robbed of precious human resources.

Health is so important that, without it, the economies of nations will grind to a halt. Our world has had to battle many pandemics and epidemics for survival. We all saw how the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down the economy of our world, almost bringing it to a standstill.

Conferences, entertainment, and sporting events have had to be held remotely and without fans and audiences having to present themselves physically. Numerous organizations and businesses had to lay off workers. Others have had to work from home. Many countries have had to lock down for several months to minimize the spread and more deaths. There won’t be enough space and time to revisit the HIV-AIDS outbreak, Ebola, and even the era of the Bubonic Plague and the devastation they caused the world.

The Importance of Health in Our World

It is clear that health and good health for that matter is paramount for humanity and development. Due to the fact that health is rated high in the scheme of things, serious efforts are always made to deliver quality health services to the people of the world. It must be reiterated however that health delivery has not been the same since the advent of ICTs as an integral part of living. With the advent of ICT, many tasks which used to be done manually are now being done by ICT Systems and tools. In the area of diagnosis, intricate and accurate IT tools are helping medics to work faster and easier.

ICT In Diagnosis

Apart from the X-ray machine, many more improved scan machines have been developed and built. The development of these IT-based tools has significantly improved diagnostic outcomes and results. Some of these IT-based devices don’t only diagnose or help diagnosis, they actually go on to suggest what kind of medication and/or treatment might be appropriate for a diagnosis. IT-based tools that can just be strapped to one’s wrist and or other body parts to detect specific things like blood pulse and, or high blood pressure and the like are available.

ICT In Medication, Treatment, and Medical Supplies

Medication and treatment have not been left out of the ICT in the health revolution. Several machines and gadgets used in treatment procedures are IT-based and are improving health delivery. Drones are being deployed to lift and deliver blood and other health products to remote settlements and populations. This has lowered risk and cut down response time in emergency situations. In other cases, the adoption and integration of IT tools have improved error margins and ensured accuracy and efficiency. Generally speaking, CT Systems and tools are revolutionizing the health care terrain. State-of-the-art medical facilities and equipment with built-in ICT Components are spearheading prevention, fast-tracking diagnosis and treatment of ailments, enhancing medication and speeding up supplies, and easing the work of health practitioners.

Basic Training in ICT Essential

As simple as some of these IT systems and tools are, it’s beneficial for the young people, especially of developing countries to be given the opportunity to, at least get used to the basics. For many of these young ones, the best place they can have this opportunity is while they are in school, basic school.

Drudgery Associated with Manual Processes Eliminated

Issuing receipts and invoices at health facilities and pharmacy shops has taken a whole new dimension. The drudgery associated with the manual old method is history. This write-up cannot be concluded without making mention of eHealth-medical care via the internet. So you see, ICT is a speed vehicle by which health can get to the masses. Young people, especially from developing countries would be better placed to walk in the paths of eHealth and all the issues discussed here if they can become conversant with the basics of ICT today.

How Lit Empowerment and Support Intends to Help

Lit Empowerment Support and Incorporated is a non-governmental organization that is striving hard to improve access to computers and IT tools for young people, especially in Ghana. The organization appeals to all and sundry to help alleviate the plight of rural schools in the area of computers. Lit Empowerment Support and Incorporated would be more than grateful to receive grants, sponsorships, partnerships, and donations of cash, computers, and anything that is able to help in the process. Thank you in advance for your support. Together, we can help.

Importance Of ICT In Trade & Commerce

May 21, 2022

by litempowermentspt@gmail.com with No Comment Awarness Education

Trade is simply defined as the action of buying and selling goods and services. Trade is also defined as a job requiring manual skills and special training. For the purposes of this article, I shall focus on the former definition. Commerce on the other hand is defined as the practice of purchasing and selling, especially on a massive scale. In this write-up, I shall seek to outline the usefulness of ICT in modern trade and commerce and the opportunities that abound in that regard.

Money Transfer Services

With the inception of ICT has sprung numerous money transfer services that are making it easier to do business. A few decades ago, people sent cash across nations amidst much paper work and time. Presently, the rhetoric has changed. A good number of money transfer services are available to do the magic of transferring money inter and intra geographical areas in a flash. It is therefore very easy for goods and services to be exchanged and money transferred wirelessly as payment. This has surely sped up the time of trading and doing business.

Virtual and Online Shops

Again, courtesy ICT, rendering service and selling goods by means of virtual and online shops has become a limitless possibility. In our world now, it has become possible to sell and buy without actually mounting or displaying goods in a physical geographical spot. That used to be the story a few decades ago.Nowadays,all a trader or entrepreneur has to do is advertise his/her wares with corresponding price tags and payment mode, which is made possible by the numerous money transfer and payment modes platforms. This kind of trade saves both business people and consumers a lot of precious time and stress.

E-commerce Payment Systems

An e-commerce payment system or(an electronic payment system) facilitates the acceptance of electronic payment for online transactions. Also known as subcomponent of electronic data interchange (EDI), e-commerce payment systems have become increasingly popular due to the widespread use of the internet- based shopping and banking. According to Wikipedia, as of 2008,in North America, almost 90% of online retail transactions were made with this payment type. The banks particularly have adopted and innovated fast convenient pull and push payment modes based on e-commerce payment systems. Customers can therefore push funds from other transfer and payment platforms into their bank accounts and vice versa.

Mobile and E-banking

Business people and anybody can transact business online with their bank by just a entering a short code or by just a click. Businesses and individuals can check their bank accounts the same way. Sms alerts prompt customers when any transaction is done on their account. One needs not travel to and fro their bank’s premises any longer. By so doing, risks, time and all the other unpleasant factors that used to be the case are cut out of the equation. Customers can ask relevant questions concerning any product via the FAQ segment of the website or portal of the bank they are dealing with. Customers can even open bank accounts without visiting the banking hall. Gone are the days when users of ATMs had to spend about eight hours executing a single transaction. Today, the exercise takes not more than a minute or two. The user or subscriber even has the rear privilege of hearing their money being deposited or dispensed, by means of micro speakers which amplify the machine’s sounds. Interesting, isn’t it?

E payment of Tax

Currently in Ghana, payment of tax adverts are playing on the radios and TVs.The Ghana Revenue Authority, the department that collects and oversees tax issues is taking a giant step in service delivery. The authority is adopting an repayment system to drastically improve tax collection and payment. This is anticipated to increase efficiency greatly. Paper work, which is time consuming and slow would have been reduced a great deal.Errrors of all sorts would be avoided and prevented as well. I know these epayment systems of paying taxes already exist in the developed states, since they are miles ahead of the developing countries in ICTs.

Paperless Ports

The harbours and the ports are key points of exit and entry of goods and services for any nation.The efficiency of the ports and harbours will always have a significant toll on trade and commerce in that nation and their trade relations with other nations. Ghana as an example again, recently embarked on a journey to paperless land. The vice president led and announced the transition from paper to the paperless status of doing business at the ports of Ghana. This is to facilitate fast clearance of goods and so on. All such initiatives are made possible by the use of ICT and IT tools. It is therefore crystally clear that ICT is particularly important in trade and commerce in our day.

High Illiteracy a Threat?
Two major setbacks to the peoples of developing countries are high Illiteracy levels and lack of access to computers, IT tools and imputing usage skills and knowledge. This high level of illiteracy and lack of access to computers and skills for their use tends to erode the confidence of the people in the usage of computers.

What Does Lit Empowerment Support Incorporated Seek to Do?

Since governments of developing nations cannot bridge the digital gap alone, it is essential that others help in the realization of that all important goal of bridging the digital gap. So how can the youth and others get access to computers and the necessary usage skills and competencies without necessarily waiting for government intervention?

Cashless Economy

With the banks and businesses having moved to online transactions, we are gradually entering the phase of a cashless economy where currencies and kryptos are taking over. That means more safety for traders, especially in the developing countries, where most of them still carry huge amounts of money around in order to engage in their trading and commercial activities.

QR Code

A quick response code (QR Code) is a kind of barcode. This cod was created in 1994. The QR Code is an image that can be scanned by a machine, including a smart phone camera. When a smart phone scans this code, it translates that info into what can be understood by humans.

POS

The point of sale or point of purchase is the time and place where a retail transaction is completed. At the point of sale, issues like how much a customer must pay, and the issuing of receipts and /or invoices are done, either in printed form or electronic form. The POS Machine is a terminal or part of the checkout process that processes credit or debit cards and completes the transaction. These machines, which are sometimes made up of a cash register, printer, monitor etc. or sometimes as small as a mobile, actually finalizes a transaction.

Conclusion

All the these ICTs are available to be exploited and are making trade and commerce quite easy compared to a few decades ago. All the traders and entrepreneurs need to do is to take advantage of these IT Tools and the systems so as to improve their trading and commercial activities.

Importance Of ICT In Education For The Youth

May 21, 2022

by litempowermentspt@gmail.com with No Comment Education

What Is Education?

Education is defined as the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially, in a school or university. It is also defined as a worthwhile pursuit by one social scientist. The importance and benefits of education can not be overemphasized.

Formal Education Trends in Ghana Some Twenty Years Ago

In Ghana for example, formal education started somewhere in the 15th through to the 18th centuries respectively. It was started by the western missionaries and traders. In those days, formal schools provided book based training. Since then, textbooks, notebooks and exercise books have been the only known ways of accomplishing academic work. Students used to copy notes given by teachers into their notebooks from a blackboard. Large spaces were needed to keep books. Books that were not stored well degenerated in no time. Valuable certificates and documents had to be kept in saves, drawers, files, cardboard boxes, trunks, wooden boxes depending on who was saving a document and which of these saving methods was available to him/her. Students in those times, especially in the developing countries such as Ghana had to provide hand sewn dusters as their contributions to the education delivery process. Classroom facilitators used to inhale chalk dust as they taught.Students,in their quest to blacken the boards and to keep them black would fall on old dry cells to keep the blackboards in shape. Students had to cart heavy loads of books to and fro school, especially those who were in the colleges and the universities. That happened during vacations.

ICT Prospects In Education

Even though ICTs have been around for quite a long time in the Americas and the West,ICTs in education only began to make inroads seriously in some parts of Africa barely two decades ago. Even in the face of this fact, many countries, including Ghana are yet to fully take advantage of ICT in education.
In this article, I will attempt to look into details, the Importance of ICT in education, especially for the youth.

The Role of ICT In Teaching and Learning

ICT aids in teaching and learning significantly. It is common knowledge in the era we are in that, teachers can make use of ICT to prepare for lessons. Teachers can carry out research and do advanced preparation using search engines and various educational apps.So can students also access loads of information by resorting to ICTs.There are several apps that are loaded with school curricula and many more. Teachers could as well use IT tools to create and prepare teaching learning materials (TLMs).IT tools themselves could be used in actual teaching and learning. Electronic or smart classrooms and virtual classrooms enable facilitators and learners to instruct and receive instruction by means of electronic boards, projectors, desktops, laptops, tabs, pads and cell phones among others.Trachers again, can employ the services of IT tools to compute students scores in class assignments, projects, tests and examinations. The preparation of terminal reports and cumulative records cannot be left out at all.

Easing Education Delivery Processes Through ICT

School administrators, secretaries and accountants can have their work eased significantly, as IT tools are available for exploitation. In School student admission procedures and processes and related areas, the (CSSP)Computerized School Selection Program conceptualized and implemented in Ghana for instance rings a loud bell for the topic in discussion. The program selects secondary schools for prospecting Junior High School students who aim to continue their education to the next level using ICTs instead of the manual method used in the past.

ICT indeed plays a major role in education delivery. It is therefore expedient that the youth poise themselves to maximize the opportunities presented in ICT in terms of education delivery. I personally wonder why students are found wanton when it comes to examinations. In an era where, there are apps developed to help in calculating math problems, it is an understatement to say that students should be excelling in their academics more than those who attended school when ICTs were not integrated into education.

Remote Education Made Possible By ICT

Online schools and universities are rife, and thriving. All one has to do is to apply online. The applicant is interviewed online and boom, he/she is in school. What is amazing is that, assignments,tests,project works and indeed, everything is done online. Certificates and degrees are awarded at the end of the course.

During the COVID-19 outbreak up to now, many colleges and universities had to resort to online classes. Students received instruction whilst in the comfort of their homes. Virtual classrooms are on the increase.

Electronic Saves, Folders, Files and eBooks

ICTs are being used to create folders and files to save large volumes of documents and the like. The role of eBooks cannot be ignored. Several books can be put on a small IT tool. Due to this, nobody carries large volumes of heavy books in hardcopy around any longer. Those who still do it probably are those who claim they were born before computer age(BBC). These are people who are in their fifties upwards, and who have given up on learning new skills, especially computer skills. It is also true that, some of these people do not have access to computers. This sad turn of events affect some of the young people as well.

Lit Empowerment Support Incorporated-Who are We?

It is this pathetic situation of apathy by those who should be providing computers and the necessary IT tools, and the general serious poverty levels, which has made it difficult for most of the populace, especially the youth to acquire computers that has spurred Lit Empowerment Support Incorporated,a non profit,non governmental organization which occupies itself with assisting communities, schools and students to bridge the digital gap in education especially in rural Ghana to try to intervene. Due to the non profit,non governmental nature of the organization, resources are scarce. Lit Empowerment Support Incorporated would be grateful if philanthropists,benovelent organizations, educational institutions, businesses and individuals can come to their aid by giving them grants, donating IT tools so as to afford the organization the impetus to continue with its attempt to salvage the situation.

Education, A Means To An End?

It is undisputable that people just don’t get education for getting sake.Eduucation also involves training, acquisition of skills,, mentoring, tutelage and imbibing of competencies so that the learner can apply these to solving societal problems. So therefore, education can be defined also, as, the acquisition of skills and competencies, mentoring, training and tutelage towards the pursuance of a career path in order to help correct and solve societal ills. It is evident then that people get educated to carve out a living by the vocations they pursue in school. We should remind ourselves that, even before 3 the inception of formal education, informal education, which has thrived and evolved into apprenticeships and the like, basically entailed training and acquisition of skills.

ICT As A Vehicle of Trade Acquisition

Typically, in Africa and other parts of the world, a father who was a farmer for example, trained his children to be farmers. A mother who was a fishmonger, made her daughters walk in her steps. By so doing, family businesses were built and ran. The learners or apprentices learned these new skills by observation and practice. I have seen informal car builders use ICT in their work. So apart from the high skilled ICT jobs that were mentioned in our last article, “The Importance of ICT in Job Creation”, such as ICT teachers, data scientists, cyber security analysts, database administrators, and so on ,which are jobs or careers that come about as a result of ICT education, it is imperative to remind ourselves that those in the informal area also benefit from ICTs, with regards to their training.

Do It Yourself-ICT As An Integral Agent

Many websites, portals and apps are training many people to learn new skills and competencies by just following instructions and demonstrations online. These types of training have ,and are equipping numerous people, especially the youth, with handy livelihoods.

ICT, A Tool For Education and Information Dissemination

Just about two decades ago, the only media for education and information dissemination in most developing countries, were via radio and TV.Today, governments, organizations, all manner of institutions, corporate bodies, businesses and individuals can educate the masses on any subject of interest through ICTs. It has been said time and number that the main principles underlying the fourth estate of the realm-the media are; to inform, to educate, and to entertain. Certainly, information is some sort of education. In other words, we can say education thrives on information. No doubt,TV sets have been upgraded to digital status. Traditional TV stations are further booking slots on digital platforms. Even newspapers are becoming electronic. They can simply be accessed on IT tools.