All Government Ministries, regional democratic offices and other major state facilities around the country will soon have video conferencing capabilities as the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) pushes ahead with a major E-government project that could change the way state officials interact with each other.
The agency said today that cabinet was able to hold its first video conferencing exercise on Monday using the newly installed system with President Granger interfacing with ministers from his office at the Ministry of the Presidency while ministers contributed from their own ministerial offices in the city.
NDMA Head Floyd Levi said this means that cabinet does not necessarily need to meet physically anymore and most ministers enjoyed the experience. He was quick to make the point that the installation of the system as part of the national broadband project, was most timely as the first session was held in the midst of the national effort to limit the spread of the Corona Virus.
“The use of the system was most timely. It is a case of great foresight on the part of government as this platform has proved to be so necessary and relevant with Corona among us. There was no need to meet physically. Social distancing was maintained virtually,” he said. From now on, government meetings can be supported by NDMA with the help of Huawei. This will limit human interaction with the COVID-19 pandemic now steering us in the face.”
The NDMA has teamed up with Chinese global technological giant Huawei Technologies to install the conferencing facilities at all ministries, in the boardrooms of nine of the 10 regional administrations except for Region Nine. Similar facilities are also being installed at state hospitals around the country to allow for E-medicine as doctors in the city could supervise surgeries and other medical interventions using the system to consult with counterparts in the interior and other far flung regions.
Huawei and the NDMA have been collaborating on a number of projects including the CCTV Smart City project where hi tech cameras have been installed at a number of city and coastal points to assist law enforcement with monitoring criminal, traffic and other activities.
The Civil Defense Commission (CDC) and the National Corona Task Force are among other agencies benefiting from connectivity to the grid; part of the broadband network signed on to and accessed by the NDMA.
- The Authority is keen on ensuring that all essential service bodies remain functional and connected in the execution of their duties. The NDMA recognizes the pivotal role that technology can play in the fight against COVID-19, especially where staying connected to friends and family is concerned, as well as staying updated and informed about developments relating to the illness.
