National Innovation Framework for Ghana
To finish my masters, I had the option of one of two different kinds of thesis projects: a technology consulting project for a big company in some digital transformation crisis (think insurance companies, media companies, manufacturing companies, etc.) or a public policy paper for a government body. The latter seemed much more interesting any day of the week.
My friends Sandeep and Scott had spent their past summer in Accra, Ghana to work on a ICT for Development project for a local NGO. In this period, they got to know the government body responsible technology policy and vision for the nation for the next decade or two. They had pitched they could work for the organization for their masters thesis, and the body had loosely agreed.
So the thesis was this 200 page book written by about 6 of us analyzing the economic health of different sectors of the country, and proposing detailed technology policy to directly support growth and recovery in those sectors in the coming 10-20 years. They had seen my immense involvement in development theory and learning / education classes, and appreciated my strong technical background and education leanings. So I was put in charge of ICT in education policy design. It turned out to be an interesting experience, but there was a realization of an inherent weakness that results from policy responding to innovation.
