The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Digital Development Corporation (DDC), based in Chicago, USA, and its local partner, the African Development Crusade (AFRIDEC) to promote Information and Communications Technology (ICT) education. Under the MoU, some selected schools in the Accra metropolis are to benefit from 500 computer sets as part of a partnership project. Other expected beneficiaries include some selected households, non-governmental organisations and at-risk businesses in the metropolis. The project, which will be piloted for eight months beginning from this year, include the establishment of a computer refurbishing centre to offer training to some at-risk youth and offenders in the metropolis. The AMA Chief Executive, Mr. Alfred Vanderpuije, said ICT development was a key component of the assembly's city modernisation drive. He said "the assembly is committed to ensuring that the youth and students' capacities are built to meet the human resource needs of the metropolis and the country at large". Mr Vanderpuije said cooperation among AFRIDEC, DDC and by extension the City of Chicago, would go a long way to promote exchange programmes between Ghanaian students and their American counterparts. "This cooperation is key to knowledge and technological transfers," he added. The Executive Director of AFRIDEC, Mr. David Ohene Wiredu, acknowledged AMA's role towards the promotion of education and the modernisation of the city. This, he said, attracted cooperation from the two organisations to boost the assembly's "New Accra for a 'Better Ghana' agenda. Mr. Wiredu said benefits to be derived from the cooperation underpins the common working philosophy of DDC and AFRIDEC, "which is entrepreneurship backed by sense of philanthropy". Explaining the commitments of the parties towards the MoU, he said DDC would provide recycled computers, workstation, laptops and printers including the cost of shipment. Mr Wiredu said on the other hand his outfit would also be responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of the project impact on direct beneficiaries. The AMA, as the beneficiary party, will in consultation with the implementation party select direct beneficiaries of the projects, he added. The executive director of the DDC, Mr. Lowry S. Taylor, said top line equipment would be provided to ensure the attainment of the project objects. He said ICT and other areas of education were key for accelerated development, adding that "we are here to empower the youth through skill training". Source: The Ghanaian Times