ICT-based trade facilitation and the MDGs : a case study of a public–private partnership in Ghana

• The strategic and innovative deployment and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) is important to development and the attainment of the millennium development goals (MDGs). Previous studies have suggested that ICT-based trade facilitation promotes development through better integration into global markets. Through an interpretive case study, this chapter explores an ICTbased initiative to connect members of the trading community in Ghana on an electronic data interchange (EDI) platform. More specifi cally, it explored the contributions of the initiative to effi cient trade facilitation and discusses the broader mplications for achieving the MDGs in Ghana. The research confi rms that the initiative has improved operational effi ciency at Ghana’s ports and borders. Furthermore, it has enabled effi cient and reliable collection of duties and taxes. The findings reinforce the view that government support and private sector expertise and funding are important factors in ICT-based e-government solutions in developing countries. The chapter contends that ICT-based trade facilitation can make a significant contribution to the attainment of the MDGs in Ghana.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Data- och informationsvetenskap -- Systemvetenskap, informationssystem och informatik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Computer and Information Sciences -- Information Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Computer and Systems Sciences

data- och systemvetenskap

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

kap (subject category)