Institutions in Ghana which have rolled out E-governance

AGENCIES IN GHANA THAT DEPLOY E-GOVERNANCE

Definition of E-governance

Electronic governance refers to the idea of government agencies using Information, Communication and Technology to serve their publics, instead of or in addition to the traditional-human contact. 

THE AGENCIES THAT ROLE OUT E-GOVERNANCE

The Ghana Armed Forces

The various units of the Ghana Armed Forces, including the Army, Police, Prisons Service, immigration Service, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, all use E-governance to serve their publics. Application forms of these military units are uploaded onto their servers to be accessed by the public after the payment of the required amunt. When an application is received, for example, a text message could be sent to the applicant to acknowledge receipt of the application. To arrange for interviews, an email could be use or the telephone could be employed to disseminate that information.

Universities

The universities in Ghana, including both the public and the private ones, use E-governance to serve their clients. In the particular case of the public universities, cash is paid at a designated bank and a code taken. This code is used to access the school’s website and an application form completed. From then onward email, sms or the telephone is employed to facilitate the admission process.

The Registrar General’s Department

At this government agency, clients can apply for business registration from any part of the country by visiting their website and completing the necessary forms.  Once the application forms are submitted, the I.C.T. tools are employed to inform the client as to which stage the application has reached. The client may not necessarily have to physically go to the Registrar General’s Department.

National Health Insurance Scheme

National Health Insurance Secretariat registers clients onto their health insurance scheme. The client can then access health service at any accredited health facility. Their system is networked so from any district of the country, once a person is paid up, he or she is permitted to access the service.

West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC)

The West African Examinations Council has deployed E-governance at several stages of the services they provide to the public. To register for a particular examination can be done online. To check one’s results can be done online. They employ bio-metric tools such as picture and finger-print identity authentication tools, to check impersonation by negative elements in the society.

The passport office

At the passport office, under the Immigration Service of Ghana, clients do no longer inundate the office, making it congested. The passport form is uploaded unto their server to be accessed by clients who have made the necessary payments for the services they require. For example, a person pays for a passport application form at a designated bank, completes the form online and submits. The person receives a sms acknowledging receipt of the form. A date is set for the client to come and take a picture to be put in the passport. Then, depending on which of application forms (normal or fast track) purchased, the date for collection is given to the client. At each stage of the process, the client is alerted. Finally, the client receives a sms to come for the passport. In certain cases, a courier is arranged to send the passport to the client at home for a fee.

Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority
This institution has deployed an E-governance protocol to seamlessly serve its clients. Agents request delivery of service from Ghana Ports and Habour Authority by providing the GPHA with an ID number and service required date using the Ghana Integrated Cargo Clearance System (GICCS) interface. The GPHA will generate a Preliminary Terminal Handling Invoice (PTHI). The Agent is notified of the Invoice through an email from GICCS. The agent makes the necessary payment on e-payment platform. Agent is notified electronically of the payment he has made E-payment platform receives payment and sends payment notification to GICCS GPHA schedule container(s) [of goods to be cleared] for pick-up or positioning for inspection and notifications are sent to appropriate inspection agencies [customs or other agencies contracted to do same.

Inspection agencies receive notification on the position or location of containers due for examination.
Agent goes to the appropriate terminal for delivery of Containers Agent is verified bio-metrically by swiping his ID card Inspection Agents perform examination of cargo and release cargo for delivery
Agent will receive supplementary invoice on GICCS if there’s any extra money to be paid through email, makes payment and receive notification.

E-payment platform will receive payment and send payment notification to GICCS. GPHA will generate waybill, upload a copy of the waybill on GICCS, send a copy via email and print a copy for the truck driver and both truck and driver are gated out.

SAMPLE QUESTION(S)

1. a. Explain the concept of E-governance.

    b. List six institutions in Ghana that deploy E-governance.

     c. Describe how the institutions mentioned above use I.C.T to serve their clients.

ALSO READ:
What is E-government? How is it deployed?

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