Barcamp Ghana is a project being run by the GhanaThink Foundation,< http:// www. ghanathink. org /> an NGO based both in Ghana and the USA. A BarCamp is a user-generated conference( or unconference). It is an open, participatory workshop-event, whose content is provided by participants. The Barcamp Ghana events are organized to forge networking, discussion, partnerships and change. The goal is to help Ghanaians learn about the issues that affect them, generate ideas for development, network and partner with others who have similar interests and improve or start businesses and projects. The BarCamp Ghana team has successfully organized six BarCamps in Ghana and plans to organize about 8 Barcamps in Ghana in 2011.
Also, to check out the Takoradi Technical Institute and its Fabrication Lab. A Fab Lab is a small-scale workshop with an array of flexible computer controlled tools that cover several different length scales and various materials, with the aim to make“ almost anything”. Little things like this can drive innovation and development in Takoradi. We can’ t be sleeping on these things.
For the development of any town / city, watching the development of the human resources and the local education are extremely important. I hear of a lot of training programs in and around Takoradi, with people being promised access to new jobs. Some are actually using this promise to pull some sakawa and 419 on unsuspecting individuals. Either way, I hope that the many graduates coming out of the Takoradi Polytechnic and neighboring educational
Visit: www. barcampghana. org
Also read author’ s blog: http:// mightyafrican. blogspot. com /
institutions will find their bearings in the burgeoning local economy. It is extremely important, because these are the folks who will make sure the local development is sustainable. This is also where the small businesses in Takoradi should take advantage of these opportunities to increase their portfolios and find capital to grow.
I hope the many international or big local companies that will be gaining footholds in the twin-cities invest in infrastructure- such as education and health. The local, regional councils and state will take care of the rest with the oil money. It’ s the way it should work. Let’ s get this right. We’ ve had Obuasi, Akwatia, arkwa, Aboso. Let’ s make Takoradi‘ krabehwe’, a place that will attract people from far and near because of its success story. Erm, and Sekondi too:-)
PS: You should also check out Ghana Oil Watch( http:// ghanaoilwatch. org /), a good resource for news surrounding the Oil find, and related news. They are on Twitter and Facebook. I wish there were some kind of Takoradi watch sites too. We’ ll be watching anyway.
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