The Parliamentary Centre in Ghana

Hands-On ICT Training for Chairpersons of Six Parliamentary Committees in Ghana starts

The chairpersons of six key Parliamentary Committees in Ghana have begun hands-on sessions in basics in ICTs as part of the CIDA funded GPCSPII. The training sessions are carried out in the fully networked Africa Poverty Reduction Office of the Parliamentary Centre in Osu, Accra Ghana by the Information Resource Co-ordinators(IRCs). Tailored to the individual needs of each chairperson training modules being covered include:

• Basics in computing, including familiarity with laptops and with operating systems such as Microsoft windows;
• Internet research – covering search engines and basic search tips; and
• Basic skills in using Microsoft office packages such as Microsoft PowerPoint.

The objective is to provide the chairpersons with the needed skills to promote their effective utilization of modern ICT tools to help them access up-to-date, relevant information and to enhance communication with relevant stakeholders.

The training forms part of planned activities under the GPCSPII aimed at facilitating institutionalization and increasing access to information resources to the parliamentary committees. This capacity building initiative is also in response to a priority training need highlighted by most of the MPs surveyed during the 2005 needs assessment. Additional measures include providing Laptops for use by the chairpersons and providing Internet connection to facilitate access to information on the World Wide Web. Ranking members and other members of the committees interested in the training will also benefit from these sessions.

From right to left – Gifty Adika (IRC) Hon. K Pinkrah ( Vice Chairperson LGRD committee) Rasheed Draman ( Director, West Africa)		From right to left: Gifty Adika(IRC) observes  Hon. K. Pinkrah (Vice Chairperson LGRD committee) practicing on the laptop
From right  to left Marilyn Aniwa (In-country program coordinator) in discussions with Hon. E. A. Agyepong Chairperson Poverty Reduction committee prior to the hands-on session		From right to left Hon. E. A. Agypong practicing on his new laptop while Gifty Adika (IRC) demonstrates