CONTINUED RELIANCE ON FOREIGN CONSULTANTS CREATES A DEPENDENCY SYNDROME THAT PROVES DIFFICULT TO SUSTAIN Articles / Date: Mar 16, 2010 - 05:32 PM The Minister for Communications, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Thursday 11th 2010, called on the banking sector to consider hiring the expertise of indigenous ICT companies to develop software and other relevant products for the sector. Adding that, the continued over-reliance on foreign consultants at great expense, creates a dependency syndrome that consequently proves difficult to sustain in the long-run. He made this passionate appeal at the launch of the ninth banking awards at the Alisa Hotel. Hon. Iddrisu used the occasion to commend some local IT companies such as Bysystems, the first indigenous company to sponsor the bank of the year awards, Soft Tribe and e-Transact as reputable companies that have blazed the trail in providing locally brewed software solutions for institutions in Ghana. He noted that there are more of such companies out there if given the opportunity could do same. Hon. Haruna Iddrisu said government has gone to great lengths at providing an enabling ICT environment and was happy that the banks had taken advantage of this to improve upon their services to clients. Expressing concern on the cumbersome process at accessing credit from most banks in Ghana, he urged the banks to revise their application processes to ensure that access to credit especially among the business community is made easy. He congratulated the organizers, Corporate Initiative Ghana (CIG) for ensuring keen competition and quality of service through the institution of the Banking awards over its nine year existence. He further noted that the banking award has come to gain a pedigree unrivaled by its transparency, accountability and fairness. The World Bank Country Director, Mr. Ishac Diwan, the guest speaker for the occasion expressed concern over existing high interest rates in the country. He hoped that banks would in the very near future reduce interest rates to reflect the macro-economic situation in Ghana. The Executive Director of CIG, Mr. Afotey Odarteifio on his part, expressed optimism that the standard of living of the ordinary Ghanaian could improve, if banks provide financing for real estate development, hospitals, schools farming and other essential services. The banking awards, the ninth in the series, has been slated for May 8th 2010. The theme for this year’s awards night is “Aggressive Financial Intermediation for Rapid Socio-Economic Growth and Development.” This article comes from Ministry of Communications http://www.moc.gov.gh/ The URL for this story is: http://www.moc.gov.gh/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=254