Accra Technology Salon takes on ‘How Technology can Promote Good Governance’

ITRealms: 

All is set today for the 12^th Accra Technology Salon, which takes on ‘How Technology can Promote Good Governance’ reports ITRealms.

The organisers, Penplusbytes through its Executive Director, Kwami Ahiabenu, II, revealed to ITRealms that in order to expand on how technology plays out in enhancing governance systems and processes, especially in Ghana, Penplusbytes has concluded arrangements for today, Tuesday, January 31for the hosting of the first Accra Tech Salon event for the year 2017.

The event which is on its 12^th series, he said would hold at the New Media Hub in Osu, Ako-Adjei.

As said by him, the Salon is aimed at establishing Ghana’s potential in leveraging ICTs to enhance transparency, accountability and participation, the 2-hour lively platform is expected to bring under one roof, governance experts, media personnel, civil society actors, tech entrepreneurs and enthusiasts with shared interest on the matter.

He pointed out that globally, there are examples of efforts towards the opening up of governance systems and enhancing accountability such as Huduma, Twaweza,Cuidemos el Voto, CGNet Swara, Fix My Street, Sunlight Foundation, World Bank’s Open Data, the Open Government Partnership and the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), and a wide range of others.

While Ghana’s democratic credentials are not in doubt, there seem to exist a capacity gap in, particularly, citizens’ abilities to hold duty bearers to account even in the face of exponential growth in the influence of technology.

The Technology Salon, he emphasized, will explore drawing on lessons and challenges from other places.

“We are witnesses to the extent to which tech tools and new media enhanced participation and the greater conduct of the 2016 general elections. With the heightened interest of citizens and many stakeholders in the business of governance in general, this event will highlight what the possibilities and challenges are,” he said.

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