1st Workshop on Geospatial Science and Technology held in Accra
Accra, Ghana 4TH October, 2012
The Africa Media Forum for Geo-information Systems (AMFGIS) in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the International Institute of ICT Journalism (Penplusbytes) is held its first workshop on Geospatial Science and Technology for journalists in Accra on Tuesday 2nd October, 2012.
Under the theme "Harnessing Geospatial Science and Technology for Socio-economic Development – The Role of Ghanaian Media", the workshop aims at educating journalists on the use of Geo-spatial Information in the Newsroom by focusing on topics such as Introduction to Concepts of Geospatial Technologies, Case Studies of GIS Applications in Ghana with special emphasis on how to generate compelling stories.
"After a successful launch of Africa Media Forum for Geo-information Systems (AMFGIS) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in September 2012; a direct outcome of first ever two-day training of trainers organized by the ICT, Science and Technology Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), we are pleased AMFGIS is holding this major capacity building opportunity for journalists, in Ghana" Kwami Ahiabenu, II Co-Chair of AMFGIS said.
He added "Geospatial science and technology have a lot of opportunities to stimulate Ghana's socio-economic development and journalists have an important role to ensure increased awareness of these opportunities and the workshop is coming at a right time in this direction".
Ms. Aida Opoku-Mensah, Director of ICT and Science & Technology Division (ISTD), UNECA stated that "Africa and Ghana cannot do without the use and exploitation of geospatial technology, whether for its use in elections that ensures the accurate mapping of constituencies, or mapping disease-prone areas for decision-making, as well as assessing the environmental impacts of mining, oil exploration. The main challenge is to get policy/decision-makers understanding the strategic importance of surveying, mapping, GIS, GPS, earth satellite observation and other forms of geospatial technology for proper and effective development planning. It's high time we got politicians, legislators and planners having a holistic approach to the use of technology to countries' advantage".
30 journalists, drawn from print, radio, television and online media houses in Ghana participated. Mr. Mawuttodzi Abissath a participant from the Information Services Department (ISD) says "this workshop is an eye opener and will go a long way to broaden my horizon in my journalism practice, especially the use of technology in development, not only in Ghana but in Africa as whole and I hope similar workshops will be held on regular basis to keep journalists abreast with the latest developments in the geospatial space."
AMFGIS seeks to promote collaboration, information and knowledge sharing on geospatial information, science and technology issues and its impact on country socio-economic development.
International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
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