Winston-Salem State University News May 18, 2012 WSSU Professor to Participate in Financial Conference in Ghana Dr. Alice S. Etim, assistant professor of management information in the School of Business and Economics at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), will be one of more than 30 industry intellectual leaders who will gather in Accra, Ghana May 28-29 for a banking forum sponsored by AITEC Africa. Etim will conduct a session on the factors that impact the use and growth of mobile banking and mobile commerce in West Africa. Three undergraduate students from WSSU's School of Business and Economics will also be attending the conference. They are Bryant Bell, Dominic Olshanski and Rickey Burns. "African banks have a heritage of colonial banking which was designed only to serve governments, corporations and high-worth individuals," said Etim. "Because most central banks are tied into this old system, they truly do not understand the dynamics of mobile banking and that it can provide financial services for a broader range of customers. They also tend to resist the concept because of the perceived risks involved. "The Central Bank of Ghana, however, has allowed mobile operators to provide money transfer services, which have benefited millions by reducing money transfer costs. It also means that money can move through the economy more efficiently and more quickly than under the old system," Etim explained. "That efficiency has a positive impact on the overall economy as well." The conference in Accra is one of many information and communications technology sessions sponsored by AITEC Africa across the continent to address key issues faced by the financial services sector as part of its focus on professional training and development. WSSU's participation is being made possible in part by the Koch Foundation, Dr. Jessica Bailey and Dr. Craig Richardson. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.