scholarly journals E-GOVERNMENT IN GHANA: THE BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (01) ◽  
pp. 124-140
Author(s):  
Ghassan A.O. Abusamhadana ◽  
Kinn Abass Bakon ◽  
Nur Fazidah Elias
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
African Country ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Public Knowledge ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Government Services ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Substantial Investment ◽  
Academic Discourses

The result of substantial investment and the formulation of impressive policies for e-government implementations has transitioned Ghana from a mediocre to a high e-government readiness in the latest United Nations Biannual E-Government Development Index (EGDI). Ghana is the only African country to achieve this feat. However, how e-government service delivers benefits to Ghanaians and the challenges this technology is encountering seems to be overlooked by researchers in extant academic discourses. As a result, important scientific knowledge about this topic in the context of Ghana is missing. This paper aims to review articles on e-government to identify its merits to the Ghanaian public and businesses and single out the challenges it faces. The narrative review method was employed to search, review, and synthesise the extant literature. The review showed that there is a paucity of e-government related literature in the context of Ghana. Among the few articles that were found and reviewed, the benefits associated with e-government are; (1) reduction of corruption prospects, (2) efficiency of government services delivery, (3) access to government services, and (4) cost reduction. Moreover, the challenges associated with e-government are; (1) digital divide and its four dimensions, (2) culture challenge, (3) sabotaging of government infrastructure, (4) power interruptions, (5) citizens trust issues, (6) security threats, and (7) low public knowledge. This article contributes to the limited body of research on e-government in developing countries, particularly Ghana, by mapping a potential field of research, synthesising the current knowledge of e-government in Ghana, and creating an agenda for further research. Also, the up-to-date knowledge provided by this paper could assist the authorities in making prudent e-government policies

E-Government Issues in Developing Countries

2012 ◽  
pp. 423-439
Author(s):  
Gohar Feroz Khan ◽  
Junghoon Moon
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Electronic Government ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Government Services

Electronic government, or e-Government, is the practice of providing public services to citizens, businesses, and other government agencies where government services can be accessed through the Internet, mobile phone, fax, mail, telephone, and personal visits (MGAHA, 2005). Developing countries, utilizing the late comer advantage, are mimicking trends of paperless governments with the expectations to reap the same benefits enjoyed by developed countries. However, e-Government initiatives have not always been successful in developing countries. According to the study conducted by Heeks (2003), the rate of e-Government success in developing countries was only 15 percent. The authors believe that such failures are mainly due to certain unique social, economic, technological, and environmental challenges faced by e-Government in developing countries. For example, some major issues include digital divide, political instability, and skills-related issues. However, the research dealing with these problems is limited. Therefore, in this chapter, the authors discuss these challenges.

Articulating Wider Smartphone Emerging Security Issues in the Case of M-Government in Turkey

2013 ◽  
pp. 177-205
Author(s):  
Ronan de Kervenoael ◽  
Vasileios Yfantis
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Disaster Recovery ◽  
Intention To Use ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
Government Services ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
Emerging Country ◽  
Future Intention ◽  
Technical Capacity ◽  
Networking Technology

For the last several years, mobile devices and platform security threats, including wireless networking technology, have been top security issues. A departure has occurred from automatic anti-virus software based on traditional PC defense: risk management (authentication and encryption), compliance, and disaster recovery following polymorphic viruses and malware as the primary activities within many organizations and government services alike. This chapter covers research in Turkey as a reflection of the current market – e-government started officially in 2008. This situation in an emerging country presents the current situation and resistances encountered while engaging with mobile and e-government interfaces. The authors contend that research is needed to understand more precisely security threats and most of all potential solutions for sustainable future intention to use m-government services. Finally, beyond m-government initiatives' success or failure, the mechanisms related to public administration mobile technical capacity building and security issues are discussed.

User Help and Service Navigation Features in Government Web Sites

2011 ◽  
pp. 2643-2656
Author(s):  
Genie N.L. Stowers
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Web Site ◽  
Government Structure ◽  
The Public ◽  
Government Services ◽  
Government Web Sites ◽  
Web Developers ◽  
Lack Of Knowledge

This article examines the user help and service navigation features in government Web sites and compares them across levels of government. These features are critical to ensuring that users unfamiliar with government are able to successfully and easily access e-government services and information. The research finds clear patterns in the use of similar help and navigation features across governments, leading to a conclusion that these features are diffusing in the public sector Web development field. The article concludes by stating that Web developers should work to overcome a second digital divide, one of a lack of knowledge of Web site organization and government structure. Users need to be actively assisted to find information by Web developers.

E-Government and Denial of Service Attacks

2011 ◽  
pp. 1364-1378
Author(s):  
Aikaterini Mitrokotsa ◽  
Christos Douligeris
Keyword(s):  
Significant Role ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Denial Of Service ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
Dos Attacks ◽  
Government Services ◽  
Repair Costs ◽  
Electronic Technologies

The use of electronic technologies in government services has played a significant role in making citizens’ lives more convenient. Even though the transition to digital governance has great advantages for the quality of government services it may be accompanied with many security threats. One of the major threats and hardest security problems e-Government faces are the Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. DoS attacks have already taken some of the most popular e-government sites off-line for several hours causing enormous losses and repair costs. In this chapter, important incidents of DoS attacks and results from surveys that indicate the seriousness of the problem are presented. In order to limit the problem of DoS attacks in government organisations we also present a list of best practices that can be used to combat the problem together with a classification of attacks and defense mechanisms.

Benchmarking Local E-Government

2011 ◽  
pp. 371-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tan Yigitcanlar ◽  
Scott Baum
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Government Services ◽  
Government Project ◽  
Governance Tools ◽  
State And Local

Increasingly, almost everything we do in our daily lives is being influenced by information and communications technologies (ICTs) including the Internet. The task of governance is no exception with an increasing number of national, state, and local governments utilizing ICTs to support government operations, engage citizens, and provide government services. As with other things, the process of governance is now being prefixed with an “e”. E-governance can range from simple Web sites that convey basic information to complex sites that transform the customary ways of delivering all sorts of government services. In this respect local e-government is the form of e-governance that specifically focuses on the online delivery of suitable local services by local authorities. In practice local e-government reflects four dimensions, each one dealing with the functions of government itself. The four are: (a) e-services, the electronic delivery of government information, programs, and services often over the Internet; (b) e-management, the use of information technology to improve the management of government. This might range from streamlining business processes to improving the flow of information within government departments; (c) e-democracy the use of electronic communication vehicles, such as e-mail and the Internet, to increase citizen participation in the public decision-making process; (d) e-commerce, the exchange of money for goods and services over the Internet which might include citizens paying taxes and utility bills, renewing vehicle registrations, and paying for recreation programs, or government buying office supplies and auctioning surplus equipment (Cook, LaVigne, Pagano, Dawes, & Pardo, 2002). Commensurate with the rapid increase in the process of developing e-governance tools, there has been an increased interest in benchmarking the process of local e-governance. This benchmarking, which includes the processes involved in e-governance as well as the extent of e-governance adoption or take-up is important as it allows for improved processes and enables government agencies to move towards world best practice. It is within this context that this article discusses benchmarking local e-government. It brings together a number of discussions regarding the significance of benchmarking, best practices and actions for local e-government, and key elements of a successful local e-government project.

Bridging the Digital Divide through Broadband Deployment

2011 ◽  
pp. 30-46
Author(s):  
Challa Radhakumari
Keyword(s):  
Digital Divide ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Andhra Pradesh ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Electronic Process ◽  
Technological Transformation ◽  
Southern States ◽  
Critical Success

This chapter provides a summary relating to the functioning of two projects in the two Southern States of India, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, to show how through broadband deployment in rural areas the digital divide can be bridged. By focusing on the implementation of the two projects, the chapter illustrates their contribution in practically using the broadband technologies in overcoming the hurdles to bridging the digital divide, and highlights the critical success factors as identified during the functioning of the projects which helped the states in achieving their goals. The chapter also reveals through its analysis that the accessibility of services through broadband technology have brought an opportunity to the citizens to become a part of the current knowledge revolution, besides bringing about a great technological transformation to the areas where it is implemented, and thus contributed to bridging the digital divide. The chapter is finally concluded by proving that moving from a manual to electronic process with broadband technology as an enabler; the States set an example, which will serve as a set of guidelines for application of similar projects in other geographical settings.

Benchmarking Local E-Government

2011 ◽  
pp. 37-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tan Yigitcanlar ◽  
Scott Baum
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Government Services ◽  
Government Project ◽  
Governance Tools ◽  
State And Local

Increasingly, almost everything we do in our daily lives is being influenced by information and communications technologies (ICTs) including the Internet. The task of governance is no exception with an increasing number of national, state, and local governments utilizing ICTs to support government operations, engage citizens, and provide government services. As with other things, the process of governance is now being prefixed with an “e”. E-governance can range from simple Web sites that convey basic information to complex sites that transform the customary ways of delivering all sorts of government services. In this respect local e-government is the form of e-governance that specifically focuses on the online delivery of suitable local services by local authorities. In practice local e-government reflects four dimensions, each one dealing with the functions of government itself. The four are: (a) e-services, the electronic delivery of government information, programs, and services often over the Internet; (b) e-management, the use of information technology to improve the management of government. This might range from streamlining business processes to improving the flow of information within government departments; (c) e-democracy the use of electronic communication vehicles, such as e-mail and the Internet, to increase citizen participation in the public decision-making process; (d) e-commerce, the exchange of money for goods and services over the Internet which might include citizens paying taxes and utility bills, renewing vehicle registrations, and paying for recreation programs, or government buying office supplies and auctioning surplus equipment (Cook, LaVigne, Pagano, Dawes, & Pardo, 2002). Commensurate with the rapid increase in the process of developing e-governance tools, there has been an increased interest in benchmarking the process of local e-governance. This benchmarking, which includes the processes involved in e-governance as well as the extent of e-governance adoption or take-up is important as it allows for improved processes and enables government agencies to move towards world best practice. It is within this context that this article discusses benchmarking local e-government. It brings together a number of discussions regarding the significance of benchmarking, best practices and actions for local e-government, and key elements of a successful local e-government project.

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