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

Abstract

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 ICT-based initiative to connect members of the trading community in Ghana on an electronic data interchange (EDI) platform. More specifically, it explored the contributions of the initiative to efficient trade facilitation and discusses the broader implications for achieving the MDGs in Ghana. The research confirms that the initiative has improved operational efficiency at Ghana's ports and borders. Furthermore, it has enabled efficient 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.