The Ministry of Communications, Ghana has collaborated with the World Bank to initiate the e-Ghana project which aims at supporting initiatives to implement:
- The Government’s Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) - led development strategy
- Generating increased employment in the IT-Enabled Services sector
- Enhancing efficiency, transparency and accountability in selected government agencies and departments by rolling out e-Government applications
- Improving access to information/transaction capabilities for citizens and businesses.
Ghana was one of the first countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to undertake a program of liberalization in the telecommunications sector in the mid 1990s. Since then, significant improvements have occurred which have led to the growth of the ICT sector, particularly in 2000 to 2005.
Project Background
After an extensive nation-wide consultative process, Government of Ghana adopted the ICT-led Socio-Economic Policy for Accelerated Development which is to be integrated within government's development strategy.
Project Approval date: 1st Aug 2006
Project End date: 30th June 2014
Initial Estimate: 40 million USD
The Project consists of three main components which seek to:
- Create the enabling environment necessary for the growth of the sector
- To enhance the implementation of key Government ICT sector policies and action plans
- The implementation of a national ITES policy to promote an enabling environment for addressing the needs and priorities of the ITES sector
- Building of institutional and human capacity for the effective and efficient implementation and use of resources.
- Support local ICT Businesses and IT enabled services
- Catalyze the local ICT industry
- Create more employment for the local population
- The capacity-building and operational support to the Outsourcing Association of Ghana to nurture existing small, medium and large ITES companies.
- Promote e-Government applications and Government Communications.
- Setting up of a high-speed government-wide communications network for the purpose of sharing information
- Establishment of a shared portal infrastructure to reduce costs, and facilitate the delivery of e-government services
- Specialized training for government chief information officers and technical staff
As per the news on 28th June 2010, the World Bank Board has approved additional financing in the amount of US$44.7 million from the International Development Association to the Government of Ghana for the ongoing eGhana Project.
The scope of eGhana Project has now been expanded to include a fourth component that aims to support:
- The establishment and use of Public Financial Management functionality at Government of Ghana treasuries
- Improved macro-fiscal discipline and management
- Improved MDA and sectoral management; (d) improved financial management, control and efficiency across government; (e) Development of BPO Center; and (f) Strategic Innovation Centers to scale up diffusion of ICT in underserved areas.