The document discusses the challenges of addressing local digital divides in Ghana given opportunities presented by new mobile technologies and the internet. It explores policy and regulatory challenges around universal access and equity. It also discusses possible applications of mobile and internet platforms in Ghana and the need for technology foresight to balance market forces and regulation.

1. Overview Outline the challenge of local digital divides in Ghana with specific reference to Moree Explore policy and regulatory challenges of capitalizing on opportunities presented by the new mobile opportunities with special regard to equity and universal access Explore possible specific applications in Ghana of the exciting global overlay of the internet and mobile telephony platforms today.

2. Perspective I The mobile telephone, many people reckon, is the biggest change to have hit Africa in the past 100 years. Financial Times (London, England), November 21, 2006 Tuesday

3. Perspective II Some 1.2bn people surf the web, and twice that number use mobile phones, far more than have traditional fixed lines. This factor alone has hugely improved the livelihoods of poorer countries, especially in Africa. Celebrating 60 years … with a glimpse of the future, The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2006

4. Warning Mobile phones are changing politics faster than academics can follow The Economist, Oct 26th 2006

5. Key Arguments That new mobile telephony value chain has broadened the range of directly relevant stakeholders in the mobile industry in Ghana. Inclusion of applications and content providers present a problem in Ghana as they come from software development and traditionally IT sector which has historically not be fully integrated in the old telephony sector and is internally low on social capital. The new mobile revolution would not automatically create sustainable wealth. We may need a golden combination of the market and the state, balancing competition and regulation. We need rigorous technology foresight of the fast-changing relevant global situation. Such foresight should not be left to commercial interests alone.