ICT in Ghana
Where are we now?
Impact & lessons learned
IICD in Ghana

Ghana was the first sub-Saharan country to obtain independence from colonial rules, and on 6 March 2007, Ghana celebrated the 50 years anniversary of this independence. In the years since independence, Ghana has seen authoritarian rule, political instability, systematic violations of human rights, arbitrary seizures of properties and misguided economic policies. Ghana is a country rich in natural resources such as gold, timber and cocoa. The per capita output is twice that of the poorest West African countries. Yet, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international finance and technical assistance.

Barriers to progress include public sector wage increases, lack of access to electricity in rural areas, and the depreciation of the cedi. The cedi has depreciated to such an extent that in 2007, Ghana will re-denominate its currency (the cedi and pesewa). From July 2007, 10,000 cedi will be re-denominated as 1 Ghana cedi.

ICT in Ghana

“The Information and Technology Age has provided opportunities for Ghana to mitigate the problems of decades – long stagnation and poor economic performance and the process to develop a national ICT for Accelerated Development Policy and Plan is a demonstration of our commitment to ensure that Ghana becomes an active partner in the global Information Society and economy” stated Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister for Communication (2005).

The reality is that 75% of the population have no access to basic telephony, and computers are still beyond the reach of the average Ghanaian. Internet charges are still high, and bandwidth remains a major issue. So despite the progress made in the last 10 years, huge challenges remain in Ghana

The Ghana ICT4D process is one of the most documented and most consultative in Africa, and discussion and debates centred on ICT4D are broadcast on radio and television, reported on in the news, and are firmly on the political agenda. The Ghana ICT4D policy has been approved by Cabinet and Parliament, and considerable improvements have been seen in various areas.

Where are we now?

In Ghana local information exchange, knowledge sharing and networking is coordinated by GINKS – the Ghana Information Network for Knowledge Sharing. The focus of GINKS as a network is to use ICT as a tool for poverty alleviation by facilitating the work of network members and encouraging knowledge sharing on ICT for Development. The GINKS network is currently focussing on the health and agriculture sectors, with an emphasis on education and gender issues.

GINKS provides stakeholders with an online space for networking, with services such as the GINKS mailing list and the GINKS portal. In 2007 GINKS launched a new service in the form of a Weblog.

A learning report on the ECAMIC project (supporting farmers in the Eastern Corridor through forming cooperative farmer groups), revealed that the project is already having a high impact on all levels, although farmers are not yet gaining the computer skills they desire. More attention needs to be paid to involving young people, particularly the children of current participants in the project. Positive effects included the financial and other benefits of the project, including access to formal financial institutions, more self-confidence, better negotiation skills, and increased cooperation in the community. Future wishes include more standardisation in the markets in terms of qualities and quantities.

Impact & lessons learned

As the main knowledge sharing network, GINKS provides the main focus for monitoring and evaluation activities, and seeks to contribute to the exchange of experiences and learning among project partners and the wider public.

At a Focus Group meeting in Tamale, project participants from the four IICD-supported projects in the livelihoods sector came together to analyse and discuss the results of questionnaires filled in by end-users of the ECAMIC project. This resulted in a learning report, highlighting areas that are going well, and those that need more attention.

A separate learning report on GINKS highlighted the need to increase the number of participating female members. Members also suggested indicated a need for thematic subgroups.

IICD in Ghana

More than 60% of the country area in Ghana is devoted to agricultural land, making livelihood opportunities that centre on agriculture a natural focus for IICD’s country programme.

The Ghana Country Programme started in 1998, and today the Country Programme is operational in the sectors livelihood opportunities, education, governance and environment. Nine projects, including two policy processes, are in implementation with an additional four in advanced stages of formulation.

ICT in projects

Education

The Global Teenager Project (GTP) in Ghana offers educational virtual exchange programmes to secondary school students. It is dedicated to promoting cross-cultural understanding through new ways of learning, using ICTs.

Livelihoods

We are currently involved in four projects in the livelihoods sector. The Eastern Corridor Agro-Market Information Centre (ECAMIC) project provides a good example of the impact ICTs can have on a rural community.

The GAINS project aims to improve the information and advice given by the Institute for Scientific and Technological Information (INSTI) in Accra. By supporting back office solutions, the creation of a website and on-line database, and capacity development activities to train staff, the project aims to empower end-users, providing them with better access to share and publish agricultural research information.

Governance

The Ghana.gov project is a research project that examines and tests concrete e-Government systems and applications in Ghana. The results included a demonstration portal for the Ministry of Information and Presidential Affairs that was launched in 2003.

Developing Capacity

Capacity development is provided via two training partners, with additional alliances being formed with other established training institutions such as the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence that also shares an interest in ICT4D training.

First steps have been taken to integrate the projects and the programme into the wider institutional, sector and national frameworks. The ICT policy processes for the health and agriculture sectors are being formulated.

Establishing networks

The mission of GINKS - the Ghana Information Network for Knowledge Sharing, is to provide information and knowledge that will facilitate capacity building for ICT products and services, promote the use of ICTs throughout the country and also create, identify, synthesize and disseminate information and knowledge on ICT and development.

GINKS aims at streamlining all disjointed ICT projects, initiatives and programmes in Ghana, in a way that provides solutions to challenges and problems. GINKS is involved in all aspects of IICD’s work in Ghana, and is also involved in advocacy and lobbying activities.

GINKS activities include the Cyberseries, a series of monthly seminars on ICT4D issues, organised in collaboration with BusyInternet. Seminars have included topics such as ICT & Women, ICT and Banking, and ‘Ghana@50, ICTs at what?’. The Cyberseries seminars together both experienced and new ICT4D practitioners.

GINKS facilitates both online and offline discussions and exchanges across segments of its members, called GINKS nodes. These are currently: IICD projects; women and ICT; and a technical node. A youth and ICT node is planned for the future.

Participating in policy process

National ICT Policy and Plan Development Committee

IICD currently provides support for the National ICT Implementation Plans, and the ICT Sector Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan for the Health Sector. Currently draft strategic plans have been developed for:

• e-government action plan
• health sector ICT implementation strategy
• modernization of agriculture and development of agro-business industry implementation strategy
• action plan and ICT and Gender.

Ghana partners

Use the Search on the right to search for partners in Ghana.