THE RELEVANCE OF DATA LITERACY TO THE ECONOMY OF GHANA PREAMBLE This article is aimed at encouraging the Government of Ghana to promote and strengthen Data Literacy in Ghana. The article is one of the assignments which are to be submitted by participants of the Course “Data for better lives - A new social contract.” The Course is based on the World Bank’s World Development Report 2021. The “Report calls for new social contract to transform how data can be used to improve people's lives.” The Report points out a “contract that will enhance our ability to use and the re-use data to create more economic and social value.” The social contract is expected to “foster people's trust in data by guarding against misuse.” INTRODUCTION Data and Information are terms that fall within the purview of Information & Communication Technology (ICT). Data are simply facts and/or figures. Thus when data are processed, interpreted, organized, structured or presented so as to make them meaningful or useful, they are called information. In effect, data is raw, unorganized facts that need to be processed. On the other hand, when data is processed, organized, structured or presented in a given context so as to make it useful, it is called information. Sometimes, people use the two terms data and information interchangeably. This is because information from a data source can be used as input data to be processed into information. The creation of data content has been with mankind since historic times. The use of letters, essays, newspapers, content on modern social media are cases in point. The use of data to make the lives of people better in a new social contract is quite interesting. IMPORTANCE OF DATA Data has become so powerful that in modern media, it is often compared to oil. Data powers the new economy in the same way that the oil powers the traditional economy. Unlike oil which is an exhaustive resource, data is an inexhaustible resource. This means that data “can be used and reused again and again without diminishing the amount available for others to use.” When data is created, it can be processed then stored and then it may be shared, analyzed and preserved. Secondary users of data may generate even more economic value than the original primary use of it. ROLE OF DATA IN DEVELOPMENT Today, we are in a digital revolution. Without data literacy, one can hardly be fit for the work of the future. Research findings have revealed that the use of data as a resource has many benefits & opportunities for economies and individuals. Some of these benefits include: 1. Businesses are increasingly reaping tremendous value from data. 2. Data is used as an input in data driven decision-making. 3. It can spur innovation and reduce transaction costs, ultimately boosting productivity and growth. 4. The use of data in the production process of firms may help to actually tilt the level playing field towards underserved populations by reducing fragmentation in markets. 5. Repurposing and combining different data sources are opening doors to development impacts on economies. 6. The use of data is resulting in economic development, increasing productivity & employment for some countries. THE SCENARIO IN GHANA Ghana is a country which is situated along the coast of Wet Africa. The country is blessed with many precious minerals like gold, diamond, manganese and bauxite, just to mention a few. The country is predominantly agriculture. However, the output from agriculture not much. The main cash crops are cocoa and coffee which are largely exported in their raw form. The farmers are mainly the old people as the farming is not attractive to the youth. A major problem in the country is unemployment especially among the youth. Many University graduates stay in their parents for 3 to 4 years without jobs. A structured training in Data Literacy can provide a panacea to this problem of unemployment. For example, some of the reserved army of unemployed active population can look for jobs in other countries. BARRIERS OR LIMITATIONS OR CHALLENGES The following possible limitations have been identified and may pose as barriers to the use of data. 1. Lack of training personnel for data collection & analysis. 2. Lack of funding of data collection & analysis. 3. Inequitable data sharing. 4. Lack of integration of private intent data and public intent data. 5. Limitations connected to a) data coverage and representativeness b) potential data profiling and discrimination c) data transparency and potential for manipulation. SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS TO THE BARRIERS OR LIMITATIONS OR CHALLENGES 1. Personnel with requisite abilities should be trained in skills in ICT & Geographic information systems. 2. The Government should partner with the private sector for funding data production. 3. There should be equitable & non-discrimination in sharing data. 4. There should be proper integration of private intent data and public intent data. 5. Policymakers should minimize the risks for the concentration of economic power, inequality and protection of rights of individuals. 6. The Government should have a policy to select a sizeable number of youth from each region, train them in a Trainer of Trainers ITC Course to start training other people in all the Regions. 7. Ghana can overcome data governance challenges, by entering international cooperation such as bilateral cooperation, regional collaboration or global or multilateral initiatives. CONCLUSION The Government should generate the interest in Data Literacy in Senior Leadership in the political, civil, public as well as the private sector. These leaders would then be the drivers & provide the direction to make sure the Data Literacy programme succeeds. The Government should provide the enabling environment for entrepreneurship. The Government should encourage the export of data literates.

Vodafone on the march to success through effective Content Marketing - a Customer’s viewpoint

PREAMBLE: This write-up is an assignment on “A Content Marketing & Social Media Plan” submitted as part of a Course: “The advanced content and social tactics to optimize SEO course.” This is an on-line Course being run by the University of California, Davis through Coursera. TOPIC: Vodafone on the march to success through effective Content Marketing - a Customer’s viewpoint Introduction Marketing has been practiced by businesses since time immemorial. But the ideas of marketing understood in modern times, began during the Industrial Revolution which spanned the late 18th century and lasted into the 19th century. Marketing may be defined as the process of getting potential buyers interested in a firm’s product or service. The importance of marketing cannot be over-emphasized. Marketing informs, engages, establishes credibility, and expands business. In the distant past, marketing took the form of face-to-face or in-person. Then print and audio-visual forms such as newspaper, radio & television advertisements were added. Today, the advent of the computer, ICT, Internet & Social Media Technologies are contributing immensely to improve marketing. Marketing can take various forms. Some of these are Digital Marketing, SEO Marketing, Content Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Email Marketing and Event Marketing. The emphasis of this article is on Content Marketing (CM). Content Marketing In the past, content writing has played a major role in marketing & advertising. However, today’s marketing requires writing high quality content and reaching a great number of customers or clients with speed. “Content Marketing is the technique of producing and distributing informative and consistent content tailored to an audience.” Content marketing may be described as the key to building the reputation and visibility for a business, and in the process helps it get the high-quality links that drive higher SEO rankings and increased organic search traffic. The focus of this write-up is on how Vodafone Ghana, a telecom company can utilize CM to achieve maximum success. History Vodafone Ghana was originally the Post and Telecommunications Department of the Civil Service in Ghana. Then it went through several transformations before being renamed Ghana Telecom in 1996. It was divested. 70 per cent shareholding in the Company was acquired by Vodafone Plc in August 2008, partnering with the Government of Ghana. Products & Services Currently, Vodafone Ghana is a telecommunications company that operates as a subsidiary company of Vodafone Group Plc in the U.K. with a significant presence in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and the United States. Vodafone Ghana is a communications solutions provider for mobile, fixed lines, internet, voice and data. In terms of market share in the telecommunications sector, the company is the second-ranked operator. As a corporate body, the company builds key relationships with the private sector and government. With its Vodafone Business Solutions (VBS), the company serves large, medium and small businesses as well as government agencies. Through the Vodafone Ghana Foundation (as Corporate Social Responsibility), the company delivers relevant social and economic programmes for the Ghanaian community. Initiatives such as Instant Schools, Healthfest, Healthline TV and Healthline are significant and highly commendable. It is no wonder that Vodafone Ghana has won many awards over the years. SEO Audit of the Vodafone Ghana’s business from current content marketing & social media efforts The company generally creates content with the aim of driving business concerning telecommunications. The content is in various forms such as Devices, Business (products & solutions), Promotions and Vodafone Foundation (for Corporate Social Responsibility in Health & Environmental issues). The marketing content is distributed through the company’s website as well as off-site through conferences, public events and fliers. The company is quite active in its current efforts in content marketing and social media marketing. Vodafone Ghana uses mainly Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp as social media channels to reach its customers, Influencers and the general public every week. The company occasionally uses artistes such as popular singers, actors and filmmakers as Influencers. Many of the Influencers are the youth between the ages of 20 to 35 years. The Influencers are quite active on social media. Challenges As a result of an SEO Audit, the following challenges have been identified. Challenge #1: Telephony – Cutting calls • Voice calls are cut after a few seconds when one is talking with people on other networks. This practice should be stopped. • The cost of voice calls is high. It can be reduced. Challenge #2: SMS (Text Messaging) – Unsolicited Messages • There are too many promotional messages from the Vodafone network. This can be minimized. • Customers receive some unsolicited promotional messages from certain unknown persons & ‘ scammers. This practice should be stopped. Challenge #3: Mobile Money Transfer (MoMo) – Cyber Fraud There are too many instances of cyber fraud. The technology should be improved to minimize or eradicate this practice. Challenge #4: Internet Connectivity – High cost The cost of Internet Connectivity is quite high. It should be reduced to make it affordable to a lot of people. Challenge #5: Clientele – Number of customers can be increased Vodafone Ghana does not have the greatest number of telecom customers in Ghana. The number can be increased by developing some products for children and retirees or the aged. RECOMMENDATIONS for content production & distribution • Vodafone Ghana should be creating data to meet the interests of all ages – children, the youth and the aged. • The company should be distributing its content through its website, social media and fliers. • Vodafone Ghana can leverage its content by publication of some of its content in various media: print & electronic media such as Radio & TV talk shows, at Conferences & Webinars, on its website and the use of fliers. It can also reach out to schools & Universities. Through these means, it can build and grow its business. <b>CONCLUSIONb> • It is my view that Vodafone Ghana can update its Content Strategy if the above challenges & Suggested solutions are implemented. • The company can identify, produce & distribute content that is suitable to its target audience. Finally, I wish to state from my point of view as a customer, that Vodafone Ghana is performing creditably. But there is the need to address the challenges I have pointed out so that it can achieve maximum success.

Nature of future work & Proposals

The nature of work is changing. Write a proposal to provide a solution which can convey how the nature of work is changing and what your country (Ghana) can do to prepare and support the country’s workforce The fear that machines are coming to take over the jobs of human beings has been a concern for many people for many years. Since the introduction of industrialization of weaving in the early 18th Century, a technological leap has raised productivity. But it has also increased the fears of thousands of workers that they would lose their jobs. Even though innovations and technological progress have caused some disruption, they have also created more new jobs. Today, the advanced innovation and technologies continue to affect every part of human lives. This situation creates much uncertainty about the security of jobs in the near future. It is interesting to advance arguments for and against the assertion that “The nature of work is changing.” There is a global view that technology and innovation are changing the nature of work. In the future, the forces of automation and innovation will mostly shape employment. It has become necessary that all countries, especially developing countries like Ghana, will need to take quick action to ensure that they can compete in the world economy of the future. It will be interesting to propose a solution to what Ghana, an emerging economy can do to prepare and support the country’s future workforce. There are many benefits that can be reaped from automation and innovation. There are immediate benefits like high productivity, lower consumer prices and efficient delivery of public services. There can also be impacts on business, for example, online platforms are making online shopping easy. A few drawbacks like job losses can also rear their ugly heads. “Many jobs today, and many more in the near future, will require specific skills—a combination of technological know-how, problem-solving, and critical thinking as well as soft skills such as perseverance, collaboration, and empathy.” – World Development Report 2018. All countries need to invest in their people especially in health and education, which are the building blocks of ‘human capital’ – a new framework proposed by the World Bank. Human Capital is “the sum total of a population’s health, skills, knowledge, experience and habits.” The benefits of investing in human capital are numerous. Some of these benefits are as follows; a) Studies have disclosed that a focus on the first 1,000 days of child development will be cost-effective as compared to the amount of resources needed to repair the damages later; b) Some benefits of human capital go beyond generations; c) Individual investments in human capital add up: Estimates made by development economists indicate that “human capital alone explains between 10 and 30% of differences in per capita income across countries.” Educating mothers will reduce inequality, influence better child healthcare, and reduction in poverty. Human capital has been found to increase trust, transparency and tolerance in students. Human capital is associated with social participation and other societal benefits. Traditionally, economists measure the productivity of a country by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But now the World Bank’s new Human Capital Project aims at using the Human Capital Index which is a better measure to fix that problem The question that arises is that how will the people who are currently at work adapt to the demands of future work in terms of requisite skills. People learn valuable skills at work. The simple solution here is that there should be lifelong learning for all workers. Investment in human capital should not be the concern of only the ministries of education and health. Governments should ensure that universal, guaranteed minimum levels of social protection are enforced. This could be done by introducing appropriate reforms on subsidies and policies on labor market regulations, taxation etc. There should be social inclusion of all gender in the investment of human capital. Another important question or concern is how Ghana can prepare and support her future workforce. The country Ghana can be located along the coast of West Africa. The country’s economy is largely agricultural. But this sector has a lot of old people with little produce. The industrial sector has few factories while a lot of people can be found in the service sector. Although some level of technology is being used in the economy, it is not so advanced to meet the demands of the future work The proposals I wish to make include the following: a) There should be a national effort to invest in human capital and place less emphasis on visible projects such as roads, schools and airports with the aim of winning votes. b) The content of the curriculum in the schools & universities should be tailored to meet the needs of the country. c) There should be long-term national policies on the systems of education, health and agriculture. These policies should not be changed because a different government is in power. d) All leakages of public and private funds which may be lost through abuse of power, bribery & corruption should be blocked. On the basis of the arguments made above, it can be said that there is a global view that the nature of work is changing. All countries must strive to invest in human capital in order to provide the workers of tomorrow with the high-order and sociobehavioral skills and technology needed for the future workplace. Some proposals have also been made to help Ghana prepare and support her future workforce.

Finance & Investment Proposal for Zenotopea

FINANCE & INVESTMENT STRATEGY PROPOSAL FOR ZENOTOPEA, A HYPOTHETICAL AFRICAN COUNTRY FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF AN ASSUMED GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL Africa can develop and must develop. The growth and development of a country give an idea of an increase in that particular country’s socio-economic and political situation. However, much emphasis is placed on the economy when people think of growth and development. I think it is a question of “achieve economic development first & the other things will be added.” A look at the countries in Africa shows that there is an abundance of natural resources and basic human resources. There are problems such as illiteracy, poverty, disease just to mention a few. The situation is not different from the economy of Zenotopea, a hypothetical African country with an emerging economy. This write-up is a proposal that spells out the strategy for identifying and mobilizing the sources of funding for the development of Zenotopea. The strategy is aimed at helping the new government of the country over the next five years. The economic health of a country is usually measured by examining its economic growth and development. Economic growth may be defined as an increase in the production of primary goods and services of a country over a specific period. Economic growth is conventionally measured as the percent rate of increase in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP). On the other hand, economic development may be defined as the process by which emerging economies with low living standards become highly industrialize & advanced economies with high living standards. A country's economic development is usually indicated by an increase in the quality of life of its citizens. . The 'Quality of life' is often measured using the Human Development Index, which is an economic model that considers factors like literacy rates, life expectancy and poverty rates. The priority development projects the government of Zenotopea has identified are in the areas of education, health and power. But this proposal will be based on only power. The financing needs are critical for providing infrastructure for renewable energy with emphasis on solar energy. There will be the need for funding of solar panels, training and development of staff and general education of the citizens on the importance of renewal energy. An estimated amount of $5.6 billion will be needed as funding. An amount of $1.6 billion is estimated to be spent in year 1 and $1 billion each year for the next four years. The country has a challenge of debt sustainability with a current record of 50% Debt to GDP ratio. However, some sources of finance have been identified from international, domestic, public and private areas. There will be a mass education of all citizens for six months across the country using Government Information Services Vans about the importance of solar energy. Technocrats who are experienced in negotiations should be selected fairly to engage financiers from international, local, public and private sources. The country should work with a development partner like the World Bank Group for support. This support could be in the form of structuring a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with some international companies or asked to provide funding and risk mitigation instruments. There should be bidding for the selection of two or three efficient international solar power companies for the project. The sources of finance can be accessed as follows: The government should computerize many systems so as to get proper account of revenue; taxes should be reduced and more people encouraged to pay taxes; the treasury bill rate should be raised to at least 20% to mobilize funds and foreign investors should be encouraged and attracted to come and invest in the country. There may be barriers in accessing the sources of finance that have been identified. There may be issues of inflation, currency fluctuation, risk, transparency, inclusiveness, access and stability. The government of Zenotopea should ensure that there is adequate regulation and policies to mitigate all financial systemic risks. As much as possible the state should collaborate with multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to address barriers connected with accessing the sources of finance. There should be measures put in place to check leakages of funds through corrupt practices. In conclusion, one can say that the conditions in Zenotopea are similar to most of the African countries. This strategy will be useful and applicable to many countries in Africa. It is my viewpoint that Africa can and must develop.

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

Citizen Engament: A game changer for Africa

Our earth has human beings, animals, birds, insects, plants and other creatures. Out of these creatures, the human beings are rational and can control the others. Our various countries have both human and natural resources. In each country, attempts are made to improve the welfare or quality of life of the citizens. This idea is generally referred to as development. Many people think of economic development whenever the term ‘development’ is mentioned. Economic development has been defined as “improvement of the way endowments and goods and services are used within (or by) the system to generate new goods and services in order to provide additional consumption and/or investment possibilities to the members of the system.” -Lorenzo G. Bellù, an Economist. However, economic growth refers to a quantitative change or expansion in a country’s economy usually over a period of one year, measured in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or Gross National Product (GNP). In fact, development means more than economic development and economic growth. “Development is a multi-dimensional process involving changes in social structures, popular attitudes, and national institutions, as well as the acceleration of economic growth, the reduction of inequality, and the eradication of poverty” – (Toledo and Smith). Modern understanding lays emphasis on human development. Some countries are far ahead of others in development. This gives rise to countries being classified into developed and developing countries. In each country, there is this suspicious gap concerning governance between the government (politicians) and the governed (citizens). Governments (central and local) are expected to make policies which will be in the interest of the citizens and improve their welfare. But this does not usually happen as the citizens suspect the politicians of seeking their own interests. There is a new concept ‘Citizen Engagement, (CE) which proposes that it can be a game changer for development. This means that the representatives in government should be democratically elected and their decisions should reflect the views of the majority of the people they should be held accountable for all that they do. In the developed countries, their institutions work quite efficiently so CE works better than in the developing countries in Africa, parts of Asia and South America. In the developing countries in Africa and Asia and South America, mechanisms of engagement may find expression in the form of voting, community monitoring, social audits and participatory budgeting involving a dialogue between the government and citizens. This article is expected to show how CE can be used to bring about development to African countries in the building physical infrastructure. A look at many African countries shows that political parties ‘fight’ for power through the ballot box and make promises to the citizens through their manifestoes. Some of the parties rise to power through elections that may not be true and fair. The focus of this article is that governments can engage citizens for ideas and monitoring to bring about infrastructural development in the form of schools, hospitals, police stations, roads, bridges et cetera at reasonable costs. The fact is that citizens (literate or illiterate) in both the rural and urban centers know their needs whether water, health centers or schools. There is no need to impose certain projects on them just because those projects are in a party’s manifesto. The citizens who are the beneficiaries and stake-holders should be the key players. They should be involved in the bill of quantities and monitoring so that there will be value for money and costs are not inflated for political patronage. Committees can be formed for the jobs. These committees should cut across political, social and cultural groups. The engagement on a mixture of large and small scale i.e. thin and thick engagement. There may challenges about politicians trying to hide things from the opposition. But these can be overcome if the practice is to keep this open and honest. This can provide opportunities for all especially jobs. This project could be assessed by conducting surveys in the form of Questionnaire and voice interviews of a representative sample to be played over FM radio stations and other forms of ICT like mobile phones, internet and social media.