What’s the best hotel with beach access in Accra? Where can you buy good quality fabrics in Cape Coast? What is a good source of recipes for traditional dishes? Ever had a local question with no one to pose it to? Internet users in Ghana and other African countries can now turn to each other for expert advice on almost any topic, using Google Baraza. Baraza, which means ‘taskforce’ or ‘council’ in Swahili, is a newly launched question and answer service that will also be integrated into search results on Google Search. Experts in any field, be it food, tourism or fashion, can log on from today and start providing answers. Users can create profiles, send messages, follow others, rate answers and receive points for asking and answering. To celebrate the launch, Joy FM is dedicating Wednesday’s Drive Time on Joy FM to answer your questions. Prominent businessman and Executive Director of Databank, Yofi Grant and Estelle Akofio-Sowah, Country Manager of Google Ghana will be in the studio with presenter Bola Ray between 3.30pm and 5pm to share their expertise with the public. Do you want to fill a gap in your knowledge? Simply logon to google.com.gh/baraza from today to start asking questions and receive answers from the public. Some of the best questions will be answered live on air by Yofi, Estelle and Bola on Wednesday so don’t forget to tune in. To make it even easier to start contributing to online local knowledge, BusyInternet, with three branches in Accra and Tema is opening its doors to Baraza users for free during Drive Time on Joy on Wednesday between 3pm and 6pm. Google will also be hosting an exclusive networking event for Ghana’s active blogger community at the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT on Thursday evening. Estelle Akofio-Sowah of Google Ghana said, "We can see that Ghanaian users ask Google many questions every day. But a lot of these questions remain unanswered due to the lack of local content online. We recognise that users are the best at answering each other’s questions within a community and Baraza is an excellent way to be able to share and contribute information. I am delighted to help launch Baraza in conjunction with Joy FM, BusyInternet and Databank this week.” Yofi Grant added, “Google Baraza will encourage the spread of local African knowledge online. It’s a first for Ghana and I am looking forward to answering questions from the public. I encourage everyone to visit the website and be a part of this important and fun knowledge-sharing experience. Remember: knowledge is power!” Local domains of the forum will also be made available in 40 African countries, including Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Kenya and Senegal. To start contributing, visit google.com.gh/baraza Source: Myjoyonline.com/Ghana