For Immediate Release: Open Data Hackathon

Code for Ghana in partnership with the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) is organising a two day Open Data Hackathon at the Mobile Web Ghana Hub starting at 10am, Friday 31st of July through to 1st August, 2015.

This event is aimed at bringing app developers, UX/UI designers, journalists, civil society organisations and data geeks to work on government data. Participants will be provided with data from the Government Open Data repository managed by NITA. The data sets will be on the following topics: Energy Consumption , Road accidents and casualties, Government Operations (Revenue and Expenditure), Fire Outbreaks, Floods, etc. Participants will break out into teams to use raw data to develop civic apps or turn the raw data into visual and interactive experiences that allow ordinary citizens to understand and relate to these data sets. Interesting projects will be awarded with prizes.

According to the project manager of Code for Ghana, “the purpose of this event is to figure out innovative ways to engage a much broader audience with government open data”. She also added that the event is to strengthen the Open Data Community by bringing people together to learn, connect and share ideas on how to take advantage of Open Data.

Persons who want to participate in this event should register by calling 0302505824, email info@mobilewebghana.org. You can also register on eventbrite and egotickets.

About Code for Ghana
Code for Ghana is part of the Code for Africa initiative which aims to use open data and technology to promote responsive, innovative and effective governance by bringing developers, journalists and civil society together. Its mission is to create a network of civic-minded activists who use their knowledge, hands and voices to make the local government system better through transparency, open-data, and citizen engagement.
Activities of Code for Ghana include: building an active open data ecosystem; opening up public data and providing easy access to citizens; organising events to share knowledge, expertise and the value of open-data with the public; building civic apps and platforms that will promote citizen engagement; working with CSOs, NGOs and Government organisations to bring meaning to their data-sets.

About National Information Technology Agency
National Information Technology Agency (NITA), is a public service institution established by Act 771 in 2008 as the ICT policy implementing arm of the Ministry of Communications of the Republic of Ghana. NITA is the agency responsible for implementing Ghana’s IT policies.
Its mandate includes identifying, promoting and developing innovative technologies, standards, guidelines and practices among government agencies and local governments, as well as ensuring the sustainable growth of ICT via research & development planning and technology acquisition strategies to facilitate Ghana’s prospect of becoming a technology-driven, knowledge and value-based economy as espoused in the e-Ghana project which ideally seeks to assist the Government to generate growth and employment, by leveraging ICT and public-private partnerships.

For Interviews Contact :
Florence Toffa
Project Manager
+233267777887 / 0302505824