A proposal for the Improvement in Ghana Government Service Delivery – with emphasis on Digital Technologies.

ASSIGMENT ON A PROPOSED DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION ON WAYS TO IMPROVE GOVERNMENT SERVICE DELIVERY, A 2ND PROJECT WORK SUBMITTED AS PART OF AN ONLINE COURSE – “DIGITAL DIVIDENDS: STRENGTHENING THE ANALOG FOUNDATION OF THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION” ORGANIZED BY THE WORLD BANK & EDX.ORG Topic: A proposal for the Improvement in Ghana Government Service Delivery – with emphasis on Digital Technologies. Modern digital technologies comprise mainly the Internet, mobile phones, the computer and other devices. These technologies facilitate the creation, storage, analysis and sharing of data and information. However, there are other emerging technologies such as 3D Printing, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Autonomous Cars and 5G or 5th Generation Mobile Wireless technologies. Generally, when a government invests in digital technologies it can reap returns (digital dividends) such as economic growth, jobs and efficient services. From research, it has been found that digital technologies promote economic development and other digital dividends. They reduce information costs and “lower the cost of economic and social transactions for firms, individuals, and the public sector.” Digital technologies promote innovation when transactions costs fall; they boost efficiency as activities and services become cheaper, quicker, or more convenient; digital technologies also increase inclusion as people get access to services that were previously inaccessible. With such opportunities, it is no wonder many countries such as Ghana are eager to invest in digital technologies. This article has been written as a proposal for improvement in Government Service Delivery. History of Ghana Civil Service The Ghana Civil Service was initially established as the Colonial Service in the Gold Coast. It was the main instrument of British imperial policy. Upon the attainment of independence and republican status in 1957 and 1960 respectively, various Ministries and Government Departments were created and restructured. In 1960 the Civil Service Act, 1960, was enacted and later complemented by the Civil Service (Interim) Regulations, 1960 (L1.47). The Regulations provided for the creation of a Civil Service Commission, its structure and the mode of filling vacancies. In 1993, the Civil Service Law, 1993 (PNDCL 327), was passed. It replaced the Civil Service Act, 1960 (CA.5) and stated that the Civil Service was to form part of the Public Services of Ghana, and that it comprised service in a civil office of Government in both central and local government. This law stated that the Civil Service “is to assist the Government in the formulation and implementation of government policies for the development of the country.” Government Service The Government of Ghana through the Civil Service and Public Service has been and continues to be the single largest single employer in the country. In the Civil Service, in particular, graduates are employed from tertiary institution in the country and posted to sectors of government Ministries. Certain reforms were introduced into the Civil Service over the years by different governments. Examples of such reforms are Local Government Reforms (1988 & 1993) and Civil Service Performance Improvement Programme (1995). The public image of the Civil Service has not been favourable. It is perceived to be slow in delivering services and it uses too much paper in its work and records. Some Civil Servants are also accused of bribery before they offer quick service to their clients. Current Situation Digital technologies have a lot to offer Ghana Civil Service, the Government if they are implemented well. From all indications, the present Government has the political will to reap digital dividends. At a forum held in Accra on 5th December, 2017 at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence, the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia said “government would leverage on technological innovations as agent of growth, source of income and way of work in the public sector and industry to promote socio-economic development.” The Government has launched the e-registration of businesses project, the paperless port project, the National Identification System, the National Digital Property Addressing System, Drivers’ Licensing and Vehicle Registration. However, there is still a lot to be done especially in the improvement of Government Service. Improving Government Service Delivery Adopting ICT or digital technologies in not enough to reap the digital dividends. They have to be combined with business model changes. One has to think of ICT as an enabler as new kinds of business models, educational systems, healthcare systems, transport systems and manufacturing systems. All these can have an impact on the population and the type of service provided by civil and public servants. The main suggestions that will be useful for improving the delivery of Government Service are as follows. 1. All paper records in the civil services should be ‘digitized’. This means transforming the data on paper records into “digital data.” This will facilitate the identification, search, accessing, retrieval, update, and archiving records electronically. 2. ICT teaching in the schools should be upgraded. There should be public centres like tech hubs for adults to acquire ICT skills. 3. Regulations about poor attitude to work including regularity, punctuality and favouritism should be enforced. 4. Electric power should be available, stable and affordable. 5. Taxes on ICT tools should be reduced to make them affordable. Conclusion On the basis of the above discussion, the Government of Ghana, can improve its services particularly in the civil service and public service when the above suggestions are considered. REFERENCE: 1. Kaoro Kimura – “Big steps toward Ghana’s digital future”, an Article (04 July, 2015 2. http://www.ohcs.gov.gh/history 3. Samia Melhem – World Bank – Video on “Strengthening the analog foundation of the digital revolution: Conclusion

Development Finance Impact Project for Togo

Development Finance Impact Project- Digital Artifact on Togo Development Specialization Proposal on financing Solution for Unlocking Finance Opportunities Introduction This artifact or article is a project which is part of an online course – Financing for Development- which is being run by the World Bank and edx.org. Countries are unequally endowed with resources whether natural or human. Some countries are poor or developing while others are rich or developed. All countries can be said to be neighbors. The success of each neighbor is also the success of others. In the world today, there is no peace without development. Executive Summary The earth is one of the planets inhabited by human beings. The world population of about seven billion are situated in various countries. These countries have geographical boundaries which have resulted from discoveries, wars, politics or some historic reasons. The activities in one country affect the other countries. These countries share resources such as the oceans, atmosphere, air etc. An activity in one country that causes climate change can affect people in another country. This concern has led to interventions like the League of Nations, UNO and programmes like MDGs and SDGs all aimed at making the world a better place. This article is aimed at an audience comprising governments, IDA, Multilateral Development Banks, the private sector and individuals who can help to unlock finance opportunities for development in Togo. Profile of Togo Togo is a Sub-Saharan Franphone country situated along the coast of West Africa. It shares borders with Ghana to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Benin to the east. It has an area of about 56,785 square kilometers and an estimated population of 7.3 million. The country was granted independence by France in 1960. Togo is the 5th world producer of phosphate but it remains a poor country which depends largely on foreign aid. The Togolese are generally hardworking people. They are mainly farmers, artisans, fishermen and traders. Before 2005, Togo has had almost 38 years of undemocratic and human rights abuses. But the situation has improved. Development Challenges The country has some development challenges. Togo was unable to achieve six of the eight MDGs. As at the end of 2015, the country had registered progress only in universal primary education and the control of HIV/AIDS. There is the need to increase efforts in terms of achieving the seventeen Sustainable SDGs in Togo. In particular, the business climate remains challenging and efforts need to be made to scale up all 10 Doing Business indicators. According to a World Bank Report on the Internet, “the key development challenges for Togo as stated in the country’s poverty reduction strategy include: (i) developing sectors with strong growth potential; (ii) strengthening economic infrastructure; (iii) developing human capital, social safety nets, and employment; (iv) strengthening governance; and (v) promoting a more balanced, participatory, and sustainable development.” (http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/togo/overview) Clearly, there are challenges in Togo. It is for this reason that this artifact is making a proposal for development partners to come on board to offer solutions to the challenges in Togo. Why development partners should be part of solutions Domestic public resources from taxation and grants, assistance from ODA and OECD, IDA as well as large amounts of investable resources, mostly private, can be mobilized and allocated to support the achievement of the SDGs in Togo. The private sector window of the International Development Association (IDA) which provides fund for poor countries will be useful. Private business has eyes on profit but it can deliver profit and development impact simultaneously. An improvement in the infrastructure can bring about economic growth which can lead to a multiplier effect in the economy. This can improve the environment for doing business. The private sector is also concerned with risks. Measures such as reliable, legal and cross-party contracts, co-financing and blended financing of infrastructure projects can help. Current main obstacles likely to obstruct unlocking financing opportunities The main obstacles include: 1. Lack of capacity to collect tax efficiently. 2. Corruption which facilitates tax evasion. 3. A narrow tax structure. 4. Lack of provision to disclose illicit financial cash flows. How proposed solutions can overcome these obstacles The following measures can be taken: 1. The government of Togo should provide an enabling environment for private businesses, particularly good infrastructure. 2. The economy should be managed well so that inflation and interest rates are low. 3. The government should strengthen transparency and accountability in public expenditures. 4. Provision should be made in Togo for fairly cheap credit, venture capital etc. 5. There should be a system of monitoring and evaluation of development projects. 6. A strong agency should be set up to coordinate the government’s role in the project. 7. Some citizens should be given technical expertise about data collection and processing using technology and innovation. Conclusion Togo is faced with many development challenges. This artifact proposes that an impact project be carried out to unlock financing opportunities for overcoming the challenges so as to achieve the SDG goals. Author: Emmanuel Ahugah