The 'Open Source' software, which is non-proprietary, has a source code that is transparent, and allows rights to users, which would otherwise be prohibited by copyright. Because of its transparency, bugs or security flaws could be quickly discovered, and patched.
Mr. Amankwah-Sarfo made this passionate appeal, when his outfit interacted with a group of media practitioners in Accra, during the World Software Freedom Day celebrations recently.
According to him, the 'Open Source' provides such benefits as increased control, enhanced security, free or reduced cost, and higher quality, due to constant peer review of the code.
“The benefits of the open source software are immense. The adoption of this software helps cut 80% cost in doing business, and I am urging the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and all institutions, to hook onto this innovative piece, to enable them cut down costs in their operations,” he said.
The software freedom day is an annual grassroots effort to educate the public on the virtues of free and open source software.
It was celebrated by 65 countries across the world, and it ensures that basic human freedoms are strengthened, through technology.
The celebration provided a platform for the public to interact with Ghanaians and International Information Communication Technology (ICT) experts, to deliberate on free/open source software, mobile content, e-Governance, e-Health, e-Banking, e-Agriculture and Rural Development, e-Content and high performance computing and research innovations, all aimed at exploitation of technologies for the development of competitiveness in the country, and the sub-region.
“There is a great deal of obsolete software in Ghana. Many users have been forced to upgrade their software as hardware changes, given the cost involved, the temptation to pirate software is quite high,” noted Anthony Oteng Gyasi, President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Stephen Odoi-Larbi
Quelle/Source: Modern Ghana, 26.09.2008
