IT professionals to be licensed

The National Information Technology Agency (NITA) says plans are underway to license all information technology (IT) professionals in the country to bring sanity into the profession.

The Director-General of the Agency, Mr Atta-Boateng explained that just as the Ghana Medical Association issues licences to medical doctors before they could practice in the country, the Agency in collaboration with the IT Association of Ghana would issue licences to all IT professionals operating in the country.

“We want to issue licences to all IT professionals. For you to operate as an IT professional, you will need a licence from NITA. Whether you are a network engineer, software engineer and database administrator, as long as you are an IT professional, you will need a license from us,” the Director-General stated.

Mr Atta-Boateng was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of the Third Ghana Internet Governance Forum in Accra, on the theme: “Ensuring Freedom, Security and growth in Our Digital World.”

The forum was sponsored by NITA, the National Communications Authority, IGF Support Association and the Internet Society, and brought together stakeholders to discuss the governance of the internet.

NITA exists to promote and regulate the ICT industry in the country and Mr Atta-Boateng believes that licensing IT professionals would generally increase the value of their intellectual property portfolio.

He said as the implementer and promoter of the Electronic Transaction Act, NITA would also ensure that all ICT equipment is regulated.

Mr Atta-Boateng said as the regulator, the Agency would continue to establish the necessary operational framework to ensure that the IT industry is guided by standards and efficient regulations.

On the Internet Governance Forum, he assured that NITA is committed to ensure that the forum is organised annually to discuss issues around the evolving internet ecosystem.

Source: GNA