The Policy Objectives Taking into account the stated missions and strategies for attaining the aspirations of the ICT4AD Vision, the overall and specific objectives of the ICT4AD Policy are as follows: The Overall Policy Objective To engineer an ICT-led socio-economic development process with the potential to transform Ghana into a middle income, information-rich, knowledge-based and technology driven economy and society The Specific Objectives of the Policy • To create the necessary enabling environment to facilitate the deployment, utilization and exploitation of ICTs within the economy and society • To support the development of a viable knowledge-based ICT industry to facilitate the production, manufacturing, development, delivering, and distribution of ICT products and services • To facilitate the modernization of the agricultural sector through the deployment and exploitation of ICTs to improve on its efficiency and productivity. • To support the development of a competitive high value-added services sector, to serve as an engine for accelerated development and economic growth with the potential to develop into a regional business-services and ICT hub. • To aid the process of the development of national human resource capacity and the nation’s R&D capabilities to meet the changing needs and demands of the economy • To promote an improved educational system within which ICTs are widely deployed to facilitate the delivery of educational services at all levels of the educational system • To facilitate a wide-spread deployment and exploitation of ICTs within the society to support the delivery of health and social services • To support the modernization of the civil and public service through institutional reforms, renewal and the deployment and exploitation of ICTs to facilitate improvements in operational effectiveness, efficiency and service delivery • To facilitate the development, expansion, rehabilitation and the continuous modernization of the national information and communications infrastructure • To guide the development and implementation of electronic government and governance, as well as electronic commerce and business strategies and action plans • To accelerate the development of women and eliminate gender inequalities in education, employment, decision making through the deployment and exploitation of ICTs by building capacities and providing opportunities for girls and women 24