Penplusbytes to Mark 15th Anniversary With Launch of Ghana Media Info Portal

Kwami Ahiabenu II

Penplusbytes is celebrating its 15^th years of promoting effective governance through the use of innovative technologies in Africa. To mark this milestone, Penplusbytes is organising a series of activities starting with a press soiree on 15^th July, 2016 at the New Media Hub (www.penplusbytes.org/location) in Accra, starting at 5 pm prompt.

The event, among other purposes, is expected to foster greater interactions between the organization, its key partners and stakeholders whose involvement in Penplusbytes activities continue to help maintain the organisation’s position as a leader.

A key activity on the day will be the formal launch of a new information portal; ‘Ghana Media Info Portal’ (www.ghanamedia.info). This online platform will serve as the first credible media directory in Ghana and will be launched by Mr. William Tevie, Director General of the National Communications Authority (NCA).

This digital platform is described as an essential tool particularly for organisations and individuals who want to send or fetch information on happenings in media organisations especially ahead of the busy elections season.

As an organization that has for many years driven innovations in quality journalism through the use of new media techniques and skills training, the press soiree is expected to host and reconvene Journalists and alumni trainees of various programmes across all three of the organisation’s thematic areas as well as members of civil society organisations and key players within the governance and technology industry.

According to Kwami Ahiabenu, II, Executive Director of Penplusbytes, the organization has since its birth, been situated at the forefront of pushing “the use of ICT tools” agenda in Ghana and has been building digital platforms for information sharing and gathering purposes. “We have successfully compiled and validated information on all media houses in the country and developed a web portal for people to access this information as and when needed. This is to address the need for ease of access to such information which is at the moment very scattered and scanty,” he said.

Penplusbytes’ new strategic direction is one carved along a path that particularly focuses on consolidating gains made in its 15 years of existence; propagating and amplifying its successes and impact stories.  

Looking forward to the kick off activity and to others to mark this 15^th anniversary, Juliet Amoah, Strategies Director of Penplusbytes said “Plotting the trajectory of our history will reveal our excellent record of designing and incorporating cutting edge ICTs solutions to a myriad of media and governance challenges and what better way to add onto this remarkable haul than launching this impressive online tool on our anniversary and with our major stakeholders?”.

The anniversary celebrations will be over a 12 week period with different events that will reach all of Penplusbytes' different audiences and partners and fortify these relationships, share its story thus far as well as unveil key strategies to delivering world class outcomes.

Penplusbytes is a not-for-profit organization driving change through innovations in three key areas: using new digital technologies to enable good governance and accountability, new media and innovations, and enhancing media oversight for effective utilisation of mining, oil and gas revenue and resources.