We
wish there were a central repository for all things tech in Ghana where
one could be assured to find news about the most recent happenings in
the local tech industry. Ideally, such a website should have many
contributors from diverse backgrounds (software, hardware, telecom,
government, VC, media, education) who are involved in the tech community
in one way or the other, so that information could filter quickly to
them through their already-existing sources and networks.
The
goal for such a site would be to gain credibility and goodwill from the
industry and also from the general press in Ghana so as to become an
avenue for advertising progress and achievements in the tech industry.
Through
conversations amongst ourselves (Gameli, Jojoo, Kwabena, Kweku), we realised that we had all been
“waiting” for such a site to appear on the scene. One of us (Kweku) had even had
the idea for a long time and had started work on it via his Showcase
app (showcase.ilugi.com)
that was meant to be a repository for all software applications built
in Ghana. With such a repository of information about the technology
used to build the apps, founders, executives, and early employees of
tech companies, we would have a veritable list of contacts to fall upon
for news. We would also have a valuable source for research for both
angel and institutional investors who may want to financially support
the burgeoning industry in Ghana. We think it would be a good addition
to this site.
Currently,
there are a few sources for tech news in Ghana such as individual blogs
of tech entrepreneurs and the obligatory tech vertical of the large
news websites, but none of them has gained sufficient attention to serve
all the purposes listed above. For one, none of them has a repository
or directory for all tech companies in Ghana. The tech verticals of
major news websites such as myjoyonline.com and citifmonline.com do not
feature fine-grained tech news from Ghana. They mostly feature tech news
from abroad since they mostly aggregate from the recognised outside
sources.
We
believe a concerted effort to get technologists in Ghana involved
through the regular submission of articles, ideas for articles, sources,
etc. would help get the traction needed for getting the news about
happenings in the industry into the mainstream consciousness. Hence, we
launch this website in the hope of it becoming all we wish for it to be.
