REPORT ON THE FIRST GHANA INTERNETWORKLNG ... - Infolac

REPORT ON THE FIRST GHANA INTERNETWORKLNG TECHNOLOGY
WORKSHOP UNIVERSITY OF GHANA.­ LEGON: FEB. 3rd, ­ FEB. l4, l997
BY
Mrs. Christine O. Kisiedu
Balme Library
Urliversity of Ghana
Legon­ Accra
Mr. Mohammed­Sani-Abdulal
Departnent of Computer Science
University of Ghana
Legon­ Accra
Introduction
The Ghana Internetworking Technology Workshop (GITW97) hosted by the University of Ghana during the period
January 30,1997 ­ February 15, 1997 is the first of a series of workshops to be organised jointly by the University of
Ghana and the Ghana National Committee on Internet Connectivity (GNCIC) for Public Sector Institutions. As one of
the activities of the InfoDev Project, this workshop was initiated by UNESCO and ITU (International
Telecommunication Union) and funded by UNDP, ITU, PAC (Physics Action Council). NCS (Network Computer
Systems Ltd.) also collaborated closely with the GNCIC in making the Workshop happen.
The workshop focused on assisting institutions/organisations that are either not yet connected to the Internet or are
in the process of doing so to develop the necessary skills required to set up the networking infrastructure and to fully
utilize the facilities of the Internet. In conformance with the objectives of ISOC the goals of this series of workshops
are:
1. To train a critical mass of trainers/professionals in network infrastructure, transport, services and
management to be able to support an extension of meaningful Internetrelated activities within the
organizations and institutions represented;
2. To identify and share individual and institutional contacts as well as information sources that will assist the
process of national development, using international Internet connections;
3. To build robust professional linkages between all participants in the programmes so that the
mentor­student and peer relationships formed during the workshops will remain strong and be continuously
useful well beyond the workshops;
4. To increase the level of cooperation among existing projects and activities for establishing data networks in
Ghana in particular and African and other developing countries in general;
5. To train a group of people who will return to their organizations to teach others what they have learnt at the
workshop;
6. To set up a nucleus national computing and networking technology training centre at the University of
Ghana that will promote the acquisition and enhancement of the requisite networking skills.
Organisation of the Workshop
The Workshop was the culmination of a year­long activity by the GNCIC aimed at promoting the InfoDev Project.
The committee has a membership of ten people representing government ministries and parastatal organisations,

universities and research institutions and a few private sector organisations. Based in Legon, it is chaired by the
University Librarian, Mrs. Christine Kisiedu, with Mr. Moharnrned Sani Abdulai, a lecturer at the Department of
Computer Science, Legon as Secretary.
Responsibility for organising and running the Workshop fell on these two people. For practical purposes, the
Workshop Secretariat was located in the Balme Library, with Mrs. Kisiedu as overall Workshop Co­ordinator. She
was closely assisted by Mr. Abdulai who also doubled as an Instructor. Brian Candler, Senior Instructor, was
designated as Workshop Director.
The Workshop was opened at 10.30 a.m. on 3rd February by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Environment,
Science and Technology on behalf of the Minister who was unable to attend personally due to unforseen
circurnstances. A paper was read on her behalf. The Vice­Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ivan
Addae­Mensah, chaired the function and the Resident UN Co­ordinator, Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, represented the UN
agencies involved in the project and made a presentation which provided a context for the Workshop.
Infrastructure, Equipment and Support
The computing equipment, communication infrastructure, and support services were provided by the UNDP, ITU,
NCS, the Department of Computer Science,Legon, the Planning Unit, and the Balme Library of the University of
Ghana.
The equipment received from UNDP included one SUN SPARc station 5 (plus accessories), three Dell DIMENSION
P133v Workstations, one Cisco router 2509 (plus accessories), UTP CartS 4 pair cables, two SMC 12­port hubs,
four SMC 6­port hubs, three Zyxel (Flite 2864) 28.8 Kbps Voice/Fax modems, connectors, Radio Shack power
converters/step­down transformers, one overhead projector, etc
ITU paid for the books and picked up the bill on participants' accommodatlon and feeding. Twenty copies of each of
the following books were received:
TCP/IP Network Administration
Building Internet Firewalls
Routing in the Internet
Managing Internet Information Services
DNS & BIND
Practical Unix & Internet Securitv (2ed)
The Whole Internet User's Guide
NCS loaned the workshop extra networking and communication equipment (modems, Cisco pro, Cylink Spread
spectrum) and provided Internet connectivity throughout the workshop penod free of charge. The Plarming Unit of
the University provided classroom and laboratory facilities comprising two large rooms (for Tracks 1 & 2, and for
Track 3 respectively), and 14 AT&T Desktop computers. These were supplemented by 12 Digital Workstation and a
Digital Priories server loaned to us by the Department of Computer Science. The Balme Library also loaned us two
PCs and five network cards.
Curriculum
The curriculum was initially based on the curriculum of the ISOC­WORKSHOP on Internetworking Technology for
developing countries However, considering the background of the students, and taking into account the new
developments, it was revised to accommodate the situation on the ground. The revised schedules for the various
tracks are attached to this report as Appendix I.
Resource Faculty
The resource faculty of this workshop was initially designed to consist of four foreign and five local instructors. The
assignment of instructors to tracks based on the initial faculty strength and the backgrounds of the instructors was
as follows:
Track 1 and Track 2:
Brian Candler (Consultant, UK) ­ ChiefInstructor/Course Director

Mouharnet Diop (Sonatel, Senegal)
William Tevie (NCS,Ghana)
Moharnrned­Sani Abdulai (University of Ghana, Legon)
Dr Nii Quaynor (NCS,Ghana)
Kofi Arthiabah (AAU,Ghana)
Track 3:
Dr. Alex Coranthin (Senegal) ­ Track Leader
Altaf Hussein Dossa ([nformation Systems Advisor, Mauritius)
William Anim Dankwa (Nastlic/CSIR, Ghana)
Unfortunately, Dr. Coranthin failed to arrive. This called for a redistribution of the original work load. The chief
instructor in consultation with Mr.Dossa therefore asked Mr. Abdulai to join the track 3 faculty, which he willingly
accepted to do.
Participation
The workshop attracted participants from twelve public sector institutions, two private sector organizations and one
non­governmental organization. The following institutions and organizations were represented:
Public Sector Institutions
Forestry Commission
Ministry of Finance
Ministly of Food and Agriculture
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Inforrnation
Ministry of Trade
Volta River Authority
Universities/Research Organisations
University of Cape Coast
University College of Education, Winneba
University for Development Studies
University of Ghana
University of Science and Technology
Private Sector Institutions
Giant Metro
Network Computer Systems NCS)
NGOs
Voluntary Work Camp Association (VOLU)
Highlights and Issues Ralsed
The highlights of this workshop were as follows:
Setting up of Linux boxes for ethemet and PPP connectivity
Setting up of UUCP E­mail leaf nodes
Linux System administration
Cisco router configuration
Security issues
Integration of TCP/IP with Novell
Setting up of quality information services
Engineering of Web Sites ­ Contextual and Design Issues
CGI programming
Creation of the off1cial web site of the workshop
Participants without previous UNIX experience had been asked to arrive on 29­31 January for a pre­workshop

session the main on 3rd,February. actually happened that participants arrived the
29th. Workshop proper on 3 after the formal opening, the Track course had be
readjusted end a days earlier, 12 of 14th 1997.
Funding Logistics
Workshop had seed money. activities or that needed be paid before during the
had to obtained either credit or personally by Mrs. Kisiedu Mr. Abdulai.
were three sources of available to Workshop:
Pledges made by UNDP and lTU, and
UNDP Funding
pledged $50,000 thousand US for running Workshop. As been already, the
of this into the and delivery equipment and and pay for services of foreign
instructors the airfares, fees, DSAs and UNDP (New asked the
Office to to Mrs. Kisiedu the of $4,528.00 be used for the feeding,
transportation and other of Foreign and for procurement of and equipment may
required. This not to released until were presented.
This instruction unworkable and inconvenient to organizers. UNDP, responded our
plea flexibility and us an imprest" of (two U.S. Dollars) enable the
to proceed This sum received by Mrs. Kisiedu. enabled us purchase minor
items that needed urgently setting the network, to procure of stationery.
We needed to rent telecommunication equipment as PABX NCS, our local
and the Internet Service ISP). The is to highly in the they assisted
Workshop with loans and in setting up and the courses. financial statement
total expenditure has been provided as II to report.
IIA relates expenses covered UNDP funds. non­arrival of Alex a Senior
from Senegal, resulted in reasonably substantial from $4,528.00 given We are that
UNDP allow us keep this as money for next Workshop for August,
ITU Input
Although lTU pledged $25,000 the Workshop the organisation it known at the of
the that due exchange rate it would be able provide$ 21.000 sum is cover
participants and to for stipends local instructors 15,750 ) well as In order maximize
the ITU input enable us even, it decided that proposed diems budgeted
participants be This was view of extremely low fees they charged, and importantly, due
the fact most, if all participants, were either paid per by or later claim allowances
from organisations the duration the Workshop.
Participants Registration
Participation the Workshop a token of ¢50,000, respect of Sector, and University
and ¢ for Private participants.
There a total 40 registered 30 of were resident. majority were the sector
therefore, possible income from registration even lower. Much of is yet be paid to the
of the Sector's payment The sum expected be realized registration is
($392.16).

The decision to charge low fees had been arrived at in Paris during a meeting between the GNCIC and our foreign
collaborators to discuss the lnfoDev Project in general and the modalities of this Workshop in particular. The low
fees were supposed to attract people to participate in the workshop. We accepted it with the understanding that
funds would be provided for accornmodation and feeding of participants This situation was, however, not reflected
in either the paris meeting report on the project document, and was not understood by the international donors until
just be fore the start of the courses.
Organization
The organization of this workshop was characterized by several setbacs. First was the postponement of the initial
start date of the workshop from November, 1996 to February, 1997.This was due to several problems including, the
non­arrival of the equipment, difficulties in the recruitment of international instructors, and communication problems.
The absence of a single cornmunication channel between our collaborators and us was a source of considerable
confusion. The assistance of a Programme Of ficer could have helped in this and other respects.
The Workshop's orgallisers also faced unforseen, last­minute difficulty in obtaining classroom and laboratory
facilities. This state of affairs was due to a communication gap between the GNCIC and the university hierarchy.
Though the classroom and laboratory facilities were eventually provided by the Planning Unit of the University of
Ghana, this initial hitch was a great inconvenience. Instead of setting up the system, we were busy moving
equipment and communication facilities to new premises. This resulted in considerable delay in the commencement
of teaching on day one, after the opening ceremony.
A major constraint was lack of funds for the GNCIC to promote InfoDev in Ghana, and specially to undertake the
background preparation for running the Workshop. The GNCIC had been operating for exactly 12 months with
absolutely no material resources. For the period, memhers sacrificed their own as well as institutional resources,
time and energy to make things happen. Contrary to the opinions of some observers, colleagues and superiors,
members of the Committee did not receive any renumeration. Yet this misconception made us incur the displeasure
of thosc of them whose assistance would have reduced the numerous obstacles that stood in the way of this project.
During the first few days of the workshop when we had to pay for goods and services it was not easy getting things
done on time because we had to talk our suppliers into understanding that their services and goods would be paid
for at a later date. This was possible, thanks to the good relationship that exists between Mrs Kisiedu and the
University Guest Centre and Volta Hall which accommodated workshop participants. We still have not settled our
bills with Volta Hall (please see Appendix IIB).
Local counterpart organisations provided no material assistance, nothing beyond the moral support that had been
promised the project when it was first presented to them by John Rose (Unesco) and Johan Emberg (ITU) a year
ago. This was due largely to insufficient sensitization to the project's objectives and their own obligations as
counterpart organizations. More seriously, the GNCIC was not made to understand that local expenses were to be
absorbed by the local counterpart organisation and therefore had not pursued this seriously. The situation was not
helped by the low fees we charged participants. As noted already, there was no significant income from this quarter.
Instructors
The instructors put in their best given the circumstances under which some of them were operating. The Chief
Instructor/Course Director indicated in his report that the level of motivation and commitment was generally low.
This could be attributed partly to the uncertainty surrounding the remuneration of the local instructors. Whilst the
accommodation, per diems and stipends of the foreign instructors were paid for up front, the local instructors who
lived off campus and had to make daily return trips to the Workshop at their own expense could not be given a firm
guarantee as to when (if at all) they would receive their allowances. Besides, some Instructors were saddled with
organizational responsibilities most of which were not foreseen at the beginning of the workshop. We found
ourselves moving equipment from one location to another, and having to run around to purchase, negotiate or
collect equipment and other supplies. Most of such errands fell on Mrs. Kisiedu and Mr.Abdulai, and were
undertaken at their own expense
Regarding the issue of the walkman that the chief instructor reported (some mstructor(s) using a walkman during

it was responsibility as Director'to draw attention of the instructor(s) and take
necessary corrective
It be mentioned that Mr. Dossa fell earlier on the Workshop. kisiedu Abdulai)
spent entire aftemoon early evening take him see a at University Hospital drove around
stores to him buy drugs and supplies. great deal time and was also by
Dossa us on to llNDP sort his visa These and problems reported should have
some in the on instructors on the of the in general.
The generated a of interest participants and of them enthusiastic about setting up
services when get back their organizations. a word caution administrators and
of the and institutions at this workshop will be out place here. the
necessary for building networks and for Internet are not in place these newly
network professionals get they are to lose knowledge and they acquired the
Workshop. are appealing to authorities involved make available these newly
professionals the and equipment for them build the infrastructure internetworking
within country and for connectivity the Internet.
was noted there was strong gender with regard participation in workshop. was probably
to the factors:
l. the more courses (Track and Track there are female graduates computer
and therefore females assuming computer systems responsibility the
public The Solution this is focus on female computer science graduates. will
require them.
2. the more course (Track the reasons the lack female participation not clear
but be related the fact there is female participation the of computer
managers. The is to the application to the need female
nominations. possibly allocation 30% of to females.
Next Workshop
next workshop been scheduled take place August, 1997. the bulk the funding for the
workshops is to come local agencies, are by report to you to start of
how can support subsequent workshops. According to participant this has been very
useful and more these be run". agree with wholeheartedly that have come long w
and that is turning back.
Despite above mentioned the workshop on the a success. have a great
from the of this and are in a position to organize the workshop more
The following some of the achievements the Workshop:
The Workshop has produced twenty two potential network/systems adn inistrators and
service providers.
The participating organizations have been technically empowered to build their own networks and
information server. This is proven by the splendid home pages at the workshop web site that were created by
the participants. The URL of the web site is http://www.ghana. com.gh/gitw97.
A resource base has been created for consultation and collaborative work among the
institutions and organizations.

Regarding facilities for continuing education it is being suggested that the University of Ghana together with
government and industry set up a Corporate Education Center at Legon to provide training in, among other things,
new technologies for those in public sector and industry. Through its programmes, such a cenke would serve as a
bridge between academia and industry.
To fully utilize technologies available this centre should be equipped with not only networked laboratories and
classroom facilities but also multimedia facilities for tele­conferencing, distance learning etc.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank those organisations and individuals who assisted the GNCIC in
making the workshop happen in the first place and for it success.
Mrs. Christine O. Kisiedu
Chair GNCIC and Workshop Coordinator
Mr. Mohammed­Sani Abdulal
Secretary GNCIC and Local Instructor
Distribution
The Hon. Minister ­ Ministry of Finance
The Hon. Minister ­ Ministry of Environrnent, Science and Technology
The Hon. Minister ­ Ministry of Education
The Hon. Minister ­ Ministry of Food and Agriculture
The Hon. Minister ­ Ministry of Health
The Hon. Minister ­ Ministry of Information
The Hon. Minister ­ Ministry of Trade
Resident Director ­ UNDP
Resident Director ­ USAID
Coordinator ­ Leland Initiative, USAID, Accra
Pierre Dandjino ­ UNDP, New York
John Rose ­ UNESCO, Paris
Johan Emberg ­ ITU, Zurich
Brian Bonnar ­ APS
Irvin Lerch APSIPAC
Dr. George Sadowsky ­ Vice President Education, ISOC (NYU)
Dr. Nii Quaynor ­ Network Computer Systems
Prof. K. A Alottey ­ GAEC
The Vice Chancellor ­ University of Ghana
The Vice Chancellor ­ University of Cape Coast
The Vice Chancellor ­ University of Science and Technology
The Vice Chancellor ­ University for Development Studies
The Principal ­ University College of Education, Winneba
Prof. M. Dakubu, IT Consultant ­ University of Ghana
The Head, Department of Computer Science, University of Ghana
The Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Ghana
APPENDIX I
Schedule for Tl/2:
Week 1: February 3 ­ February 7,1997

IP routing and IP number allocation;
Ethernet and serial line hardware and encapsulation;
OSPF, leased line PPP; modem dial­out and dial­in;
Intro to DNS, WCP; web servers.
Week 2: February 10 ­ February 14,1997
Monday Feb.10,1997
HTML: basic formatting tags, online images, fomls. Set up a simple home page. [Requested by students]
Review IP routing, nurnbering, subletting. Introduce classful tenninologv.
Practical session: set up groups of four PCs linked to a central "ISP" via fixed PPP links
Tuesday Feb.11, 1997
Review of UUCP theory. Sendmail configuration.
Practical: groups of four PCs (one Linux, three Windows) using SMTP/POP internallv; Linux box dial­out
UUCP to "ISP" via PABX
Linux Sysadmin: mounting and unmounting filesystems, using MS­DOS floppy disks tar
Wednesday Feb.12,1997
Unnumbered links, Proxy ARP, IP masquerading.
Practical: same groups of PCs, using RFCI 918 numbers, PPP dial­up to "ISP", provide web access to
network of Win95 clients using single IP nurnber
Cisco routers configuration and demonstration
Thursday Feb.13,1997
Security: Host security (hosts.allow/deny practical), Packet filters (simple practical), Cryptography.
Network trouble­shooting procedures
Friday Feb.14,1997
DNS structure, caching DNS server
Network administration, policies, and pricing
Integration with Novell
Short written test. Reinstall Linux on workstations
Schedule for T3
Monday Feb 3, 1997
Brief overview of Internet Services (e­mall, telnet,ftp, www ...
Practicals: Basic Internet Services
Introduction to HTML and authoring tools
Introduction to design concepts and standards
Practicals: Use of authoring tools and structuring of documents on a web server

Tuesday Feb 4,1997
Presentation of the various ways to communicate on the Internet Mailing Lists and
Newsgroups Real Time Communication
HTML authoring and the use of interactive forms and images
Clickable images
CGI programming in Perl
Practicals: Image manipulation and programming
Engineering a Web Site ­ Contextual Issues and Design guidelines
Wednesday Feb 5, 1997
Overview of security issues
Weakness of a system and ways to protect it
Tools for searching for information on the Internet
Practicals: Presentation of various search engines
Setting up searching and indexing services
Overview of caching services
Directory services
Basic concepts, standards, security
Practicals Use of finger, whois, X.500 search
Thursday Feb 6,1997
Issues in running quality Internet Information services
Dialup access to the Internet
Issues involved in choosing an Internet Service Provider
Practicals: Presentation of various software available for Windows 3.11 and Windows 95.
Friday Feb 7, 1997
How to run a training workshop
Training materials
How to taylor workshop training material
Group Discussion
End­User support and documentation What is available and how to get it Marketing and "image projection"
Monday Feb.10,1997 ­ Wednesday Feb 12,1997
Project: Web Design
Information gathenng and filtering
HTML design
Personal page design
Presentation of HTML pages and group evaluation