The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Post (GP), Professor Addo Fenning, has urged the GP to take decisions that will catalyse the development and modernisation of the postal network and improve its efficiency through the application of information and communication technology (ICT) in all facets of postal transactions. Professor Fenning said this at a regional workshop on the theme: "Implementation of International Express Money Order Via the International Financial Services (IFS) Network" held in Accra Tuesday. According to him, that would make Internet facilities readily accessible to majority of Ghanaians, especially the youth. He noted that the government of Ghana was committed to the development of the ICT infrastructure. "That is why it has provided funds through the HIPC initiative for the construction, renovation and equipment of post offices with Internet facilities," he stated. Prof. Fenning further said that the inadequacy of ICT infrastructure in Africa had made it imperative for the Universal Postal Union (UPU) to set up regional technical centres and provide support through its training to build capacity for African countries. By so doing, he said, "we will at the same time be facilitating technology transfer in our operations to meet the needs of our customers". The Managing Director of the GP, Mr Kofi Dua-Adonteng said the workshop was important because it showed the commitment of African post in the adoption of IFS as a major component in their operations. He said the workshop aimed at empowering the administration with skills and strategies in order for it to operate efficiently and profitably and provide varying opportunities for the GP to improve its services to remain relevant to society. "Mr Dua-Adonteng said that, "Globalisation and competition are inducing challenges for the postal business today, but with creativity and the needed technology, the post in Africa, as in elsewhere else, will continue to be relevant and profitable". He said the GP would evolve strategies that would implement the International Express Money Order and make all other postal systems functional. He pointed out that the flow of funds from those in the Diaspora and migrant workers to their families in their home countries was an important source of foreign exchange for those countries. In view of this, he urged all to develop strategies that would hedge the implementation of the International Money Order against fraud through effective collaboration and co-operation among them. According to him, the workshop would enable participants to appreciate the financial stake of their people in the International Express Money Order since, most of them depended largely on both the inter¬national and domestic money order for their survival. Source: Daily Graphic