Admission: 2011 Fall ITTP Master Program

Affiliation: National Information Technology Agency (NITA)

Position : Deputy Director, Regulatory and Ag. Head, Regulatory

“It has been exciting being involved in the national digitalisation policy implementation and providing meaningful advice to government.”

ITTP 16^th Anniversary Celebration 

One beautiful afternoon in Accra, attending a conference on ITU Telecom Equipment Type approval in July 2011, I saw a message of admission notice from ITTP on my phone. This came with joy, uncertainty, and hope. Fast forward, Korea/ITTP, did not disappoint me at all the hope I envisaged became true. My period in ITTP, was indeed a fulfilment of aspiration to acquire a first-class education in ICT management to contribute my quota in the implementation of ICT in my country.

This, I can say has come to pass. I still remember vividly, my close relationship with eminent personalities who made my period in ITTP worthwhile and memorable. Professor Jae Jeung Rho, prepared the ground for my appreciation of IT policy implementations with impact in national growth and development. Professor Chun instilled in us, the Korean attitude of hard work, discipline, respond to duty, and good behaviour. 

Professor Hangjung Zo, Duk Hee Lee, and all the Professors who in one way or another, have contributed and made my period in ITTP a memorable experience. I also recall how Professor Min Jae Park mentored and guided and made my academic experience memorable.

My memory of my period in ITTP has always remained fresh, however, some experiences stand distinct. The concept of collaboration was given its true meaning by ITTP when it sponsored the conduct of a feasibility studies to develop a National Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) in Ghana and facilitated the signing of an MoU between my Ministry, Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation and National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA).

Another memory has to do with my Gongju and Andong experiences where I learnt Korean culture and temperament. This opportunity extended to us through a number of training activities in the form of educational visits, excursions and workshops during my period in the school will never be forgotten. A cultural trip to Hahoe village, Andong to have a gist of a historical cultural activities that has brought the people together and stood the test of time (art and craft) was amazing.

The experience in Korea is worth sharing with others who are yet to experience it in Korea. One area of interest I would like my fellows to pay attention is to make themselves available at any least opportunity wherever they are, to make a statement that will define the cause of history, will provide solution, will exude enthusiasm, etc. These will usher in their leadership credential as espoused by ITTP.

Secondly, they should take control of whatever, they are doing, and take advantage of the enabled learning environment they have at ITTP to acquire professional certifications to cement their leadership path back home.

An important observation I made which could be a lesson for my country is that there is no time or need to do experimentation in the area of digitalisation. Korea has offered us the best examples and experiences to do catch-up. Especially our trade facilitation initiative, the single window and its offshoots which my Government is pursuing should be enhanced and deepened. 

To be able to observe properly and articulate your observation stem from the leadership enthusiasm that ITTP education provides for students. In the world of work, we need this type of training to be able to rise up to the occasion when the need arises and contribute to national development. It has been exciting being involved in the national digitalisation policy implementation and providing meaningful advice to government.

As we commemorate the 16^th Anniversary, it is reassuring to reflect on the brand ITTP and feel proud to be associated with it. I recall in a World Bank Country Assessment Visit meeting at my workplace when the leader of the delegation mentioned that some aspects of our World Bank sponsored projects looks like a playbook from other projects implemented in the Eastern African countries with Korean assistance and therefore the need to collaborate with our counterparts there to share experience. This advice later revealed that the projects in question have their sources from ITTP as fellows ITTPians are contributing to national growth.