Trends in ICT Usage by Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Ghana

Abstract

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have assumed central position in the development agenda of most countries due to their critical roles in facilitating socio-economic development. Their contributions to enterprise development have been recognised and international organisations have called on developing countries including Ghana to develop policies that will integrate ICTs into enterprise development. Ghana has developed a national policy on ICTs which is to transform Ghana into a middle income, information-rich, knowledge-based and technology driven economy and society. In Ghana SMEs dominate the industrial landscape and they exhibit great potential in accelerating economic development which will lead to wealth creating and poverty reduction. It is therefore important to examine how ICTs have been adopted and used by these enterprises in the country to facilitate their economic activities. This paper analyses of survey results on access and usage of ICT facilities and services by SMEs in the country. It is argued in this paper that the utilisation of ICT services is underpinned by commercial considerations such as cost of investment and the potential returns on business activities. However, one cannot discount the importance of literacy in the use of knowledge-intensive service as internet, but commercial considerations are strong