ICT Challenges and Opportunities for Institutionalizing Democracy in Ghana

2009 ◽  
pp. 115-133
Author(s):  
Joseph Ofori-Dankwa ◽  
Connie Ofori-Dankwa
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Free Market ◽  
African Continent ◽  
Market System ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Potential Problems ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Ict Revolution

Several African countries have begun to introduce and implement Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policies. In the context of such developing countries, it is important to assess the nature of research focus on the ongoing ICT revolution and its potential to stimulate institutionalization of democracy in Africa. This chapter reviews and integrates literature by scholars focusing on ICT in Africa in general and more specifically on Ghana. The authors incorporate several key points in their discussion. First, they provide a summary of ICT trends and policies in Ghana and their emphasis on helping to institutionalize democracy and its related free market system. Next, they provide a description of some of the major challenges to institutionalizing democracy that scholars writing about ICT in Ghana have identified. In addition, the authors discuss several opportunities for enhancing democracy that scholars writing about ICT in Ghana have highlighted. Finally, they make a few general recommendations for mitigating the potential problems and enhancing the opportunities of the ICT revolution for Ghana as well as the entire African continent.

REVAMPING TEACHER EDUCATION THROUGH ICT INFUSION

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (23) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lalit Kumar ◽  
Kavita Batra
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Teacher Education Program ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Effective Technology ◽  
Technology Infusion ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Many Sources ◽  
Ict Revolution

ICT revolution has influenced almost every aspect of public life including education. Educational systems around the world are under increasing pressure to use the new Information and Communication Technology to teach students the knowledge and skills they need in the 21st century. Teacher education curricula in developing countries need a revamp to incorporate IT/ICT for effective technology infusion into classrooms. Teachers in India need to be prepared for imparting the new age education, and hence teacher education program in India should integrate ICT component in such a way that teachers are enabled to face the new demands in the profession. ICT Recommendations are made for effective technology infusion in developing countries in spite of prevalent handicaps. It implies a shift in the teachers’ role from being the sole source of knowledge and instruction to being a facilitator of students’ learning that is acquired from many sources.

Telecommunications Sector and Internet Access in Africa

2008 ◽  
pp. 144-150
Author(s):  
Vanessa Phala
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
African Continent ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
The World ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Future Potential

The “information revolution” has not only transformed the world as we know it, but also its future potential. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), with their major technological advances, have affected the lives and lifestyles of people across the globe, as well as the way institutions and organizations do business. However, not all outcomes of the spread of information technologies have been positive. A majority of the world’s population, especially those who live in poverty, have been largely bypassed by this revolution. The gap between them and the rest of the world has expanded precisely as a result of the facilitation capacity of these technologies for those who have access to them (Figueres, 2003). The majority of these people are situated in the African continent and other developing countries.

Telecommunications Sector and Internet Access in Africa

2005 ◽  
pp. 687-691
Author(s):  
Vanessa Phala
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
African Continent ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
The World ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Future Potential

The “information revolution” has not only transformed the world as we know it, but also its future potential. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), with their major technological advances, have affected the lives and lifestyles of people across the globe, as well as the way institutions and organizations do business. However, not all outcomes of the spread of information technologies have been positive. A majority of the world’s population, especially those who live in poverty, have been largely bypassed by this revolution. The gap between them and the rest of the world has expanded precisely as a result of the facilitation capacity of these technologies for those who have access to them (Figueres, 2003). The majority of these people are situated in the African continent and other developing countries.

Telecommunications Sector and Internet Access in Africa

2008 ◽  
pp. 867-873
Author(s):  
Vanessa Phala
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Internet Access ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
African Continent ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
The World ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Future Potential

The “information revolution” has not only transformed the world as we know it, but also its future potential. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), with their major technological advances, have affected the lives and lifestyles of people across the globe, as well as the way institutions and organizations do business. However, not all outcomes of the spread of information technologies have been positive. A majority of the world’s population, especially those who live in poverty, have been largely bypassed by this revolution. The gap between them and the rest of the world has expanded precisely as a result of the facilitation capacity of these technologies for those who have access to them (Figueres, 2003). The majority of these people are situated in the African continent and other developing countries.

Regional-National ICT Strategies

2010 ◽  
pp. 63-87
Author(s):  
Melih Kirlidog ◽  
Stephen E. Little
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Government Organizations ◽  
International Agencies ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Economic Progress ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
National Information

An overwhelming majority of developing and industrialized countries have developed national Information and Communication Technology (ICT) strategies. Developing countries hope to leapfrog towards social and economic progress, modernization, and wealth, and industrialized countries do not want to be left behind in the race for ICT capabilities. While industrialized countries have distinct advantages in formulating and realizing these strategies, some developing countries’ objectives are too ambitious, seeking to achieve an information society by these strategies alone. An important reflection of today’s globalization on this issue is the cross-country aspect of “national” ICT strategies. Japan’s ICT strategy is increasingly outward oriented, sub-Saharan African countries are developing their strategies with the support of international agencies and non-government organizations, and Caribbean countries have established a common regulatory framework for the telecommunications sector. The aim of all these efforts is to develop a regional synergy for fostering ICT. This chapter is an exploratory analysis of the internationalization of national ICT strategies.

“Everyone Will Be Connected”

2018 ◽  
pp. 28-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liezel Cilliers ◽  
Ambika Samarthya-Howard
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The People ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Communication For Development

Information and communication for development thinkers has come up with many plausible interventions that promise to improve the lives of underprivileged people in developing countries. The people that these interventions are meant for have not always benefited from these initiatives because they have limited ICT access due to its cost. There is therefore a need to improve universal access by enabling affordable access by the poor. This chapter, therefore, discusses free basics and how they can be used to improve affordable ICT access in order to facilitate ICT4D interventions in African countries. Since the use of free basics is not without controversy, a balanced analysis and an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of this initiative are provided. Social capital is used as the theoretical lens for evaluating the use of free basics for improving ICT access for those who cannot afford it. The chapter makes a case for the viability of using free basics through a discussion of case studies on how free basics have been used to empower underprivileged people, especially girls in Africa.

Libraries, Archives, and Museums in Guam

2020 ◽  
pp. 247-268
Author(s):  
Dante Perez
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Knowledge Society ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Global Knowledge ◽  
Knowledge Tradition ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Traditional Roles

Knowledge, tradition, culture, and arts are reflected in how the information is shared in the knowledge society. The new millennium looks into the practices of libraries, archives, and museums and moves forward to the issues, challenges, and opportunities. While competencies of the staff play an important role, information and communication technologies undeniably have also brought about the changes. This chapter provides an overview of the libraries, archives, and museums (LAMs) on the island of Guam, emphasizing the traditional roles and examining deeper into the issues and challenges on the impact of information and communication technologies. Convergence, specialized knowledge and a better framework to be adopted for development and growth that can contribute to the global knowledge society are the key points in the discussion.

scholarly journals Telecoupling of the Trade of Donkey-Hides between Botswana and China: Challenges and Opportunities

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1730
Author(s):  
Dimpho Malebogo Matlhola ◽  
Ruishan Chen
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Animal Protection ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
Policy Interventions ◽  
Rural Livelihood ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
The Media ◽  
Media Reports

International trade has become a major threat to biodiversity in the telecoupled world. The literature on biodiversity loss mostly concentrates on wild species; however, the increasing loss of and demand for domesticated species are overlooked. Donkeys are decreasing in many countries because of economic development, urbanization, and increased demand for donkey hides in China. The donkey population in Africa has rapidly declined recently due to supplying China with donkey hides for the production of highly demanded and legalized traditional medicine, ejiao. As a result, some African countries, including Botswana, banned the export of donkey hides. Animal protection and media continuously reported threats over the extinction of donkeys and exacerbated rural livelihood in developing countries, however, limited literature has investigated the causes and effects of donkey-hide trade and its policy interventions. This paper applies the telecoupling framework and uses the data extracted from the media reports and FAO, to understand the scale and impacts of donkey-hide trade from Botswana to China. We also explore the challenges and opportunities of donkey-hide trade for Botswana, highlighting the mechanisms need to be established to regulate the donkey-hide trade, and also to harness available opportunities if the trade ban is lifted in the future.

Exploring the World Trade Organisation's Trade and Environment/Public Health Jurisprudence as a Model for Incorporating a Trade–Labour Linkage into the Organisation's Multilateral Trade Regime: Should African Countries Accept a Policy Shift?

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-65
Author(s):  
Tapiwa V. Warikandwa ◽  
Patrick C. Osode
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
World Trade ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Trade Regime ◽  
Multilateral Trade ◽  
Appellate Body ◽  
The World ◽  
Labour Standards ◽  
The Impact

The incorporation of a trade-labour (standards) linkage into the multilateral trade regime of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has been persistently opposed by developing countries, including those in Africa, on the grounds that it has the potential to weaken their competitive advantage. For that reason, low levels of compliance with core labour standards have been viewed as acceptable by African countries. However, with the impact of WTO agreements growing increasingly broader and deeper for the weaker and vulnerable economies of developing countries, the jurisprudence developed by the WTO Panels and Appellate Body regarding a trade-environment/public health linkage has the potential to address the concerns of developing countries regarding the potential negative effects of a trade-labour linkage. This article argues that the pertinent WTO Panel and Appellate Body decisions could advance the prospects of establishing a linkage of global trade participation to labour standards without any harm befalling developing countries.

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