The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) has disclosed that through its Information Communications Technology Programme (ICT), it has successfully trained a total of 640 women as part of its Skills for Entrepreneurial and Women Empowerment (ISEWE) initiative. 

This revelation was made by Madam Eva Andoh-Poku, the Acting Administrator of GIFEC, during her address at the launch and dissemination of the report on the Assessment of Internet Universally Indicators (IUI) in Ghana.

Madam Eva Andoh-Poku highlighted the IUI was introduced in Ghana in July 2020, marked by the inaugural meeting of the national Multistakeholder Advisory Board (MAB). 

This meeting, she maintained brought together 40 leading experts and stakeholders from diverse sectors, including government, regulatory bodies, academia, private sector, media organisations, and civil society groups.

The IUI, as defined by UNESCO, aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of the national internet landscape and policies contributing to sustainable development. 

It evaluates these policies against UNESCO's R.O.A.M principles and formulates policy recommendations to enhance internet development within the country.

Madam Eva Andoh-Poku expressed satisfaction that the objectives of the IUI have been successfully achieved, crediting the consultants for their diligent work, particularly Development House. 

She underscored that Ghana's completion of the assessment places it among the few countries that have taken the lead in this regard, with 34 other nations making steady progress towards completion.

Notably, she highlighted that Ghana, alongside Benin and Kenya, stands out as one of the African countries that have successfully completed these assessments. 

This accomplishment signifies a significant step towards enhancing internet development and policy formulation on the continent, she concluded.