3.8.4 Policy Statements
1. The Government will be a model user of ICT by deploying ICT systems within the public
administration itself to improve efficiency, reduce wastage of resources, enhance
planning, raise the quality of services and access global resources.
2. The Government will support the application of ICT to promote good governance,
transparency and accountability, and awareness of the implications of long-term ICT
investment and total cost of ownership
3. The Government will deploy ICT extensively to strengthen law enforcement, security and
national defence capability.
4. The Government will deploy ICT to monitor and respond to environmental disasters and
to collect and disseminate information on environmental problems.
5. The Government will review its operational processes and institutional structures with a
view to making them amenable to ICT application and deployment.
3.9 Local Content
3.9.1 Issues
One of the strengths of ICT is the way it can help unlock distant expertise, knowledge
and markets. However, this access has it limitations. Easier access to global knowledge
is rapidly turning many developing countries into consumers of distant and potentially
irrelevant information. Developing countries are being invaded by foreign ideas and
values that may undermine or overwhelm local cultural heritage and economic livelihood.
If serious efforts about the use of ICT as an empowerment tool are to be made, then this
foreign content must always be matched by the expression, collection and dissemination
of local knowledge and content that is relevant to local situations. ICT needs to be a
conveyor of locally relevant messages and information, providing opportunities for local
people to interact and communicate with each other, expressing their own ideas,
knowledge, heritage and culture in their own languages. Local content should also be
perceived as a driver for local job and wealth creation.
3.9.2 Policy Objectives
a) Support the local creation and development of ICT applications and multi-media content
for productivity, as well as for social interactions, culture and entertainment.
b) Encourage the development of local content aimed at enhancing the understanding of
prevailing topical issues and promoting tolerance of differing interpretations thereof.
c) Promote the use of schools in developing and sustaining local multi-media content.
d) Encourage the development of content for preserving the values, wisdom and acquired
knowledge of our traditional communities and cultures.
e) Promote the development of local content to support e- activities.
3.9.3 Policy Challenges
i.
Building a national gateway as the focal point for locally generated content.
ii.
Repackaging traditions, cultures, indigenous knowledge, and traditional wisdom arts as
potential multimedia content.
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