ICT in non-traditional exports trade in Ghana

Author : Edward Addo-Dankwa
Date added : 2002-03-26

Brief Project Background

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) having promoted the production of non-traditional export product, has been looking for ways of helping in the marketing of these products, especially for the small and medium-scaled producers.

The idea of using ICT by MOFA to achieve this goal was identified in March 1998, at a round table workshop on ICT and National Development, organised by the Ministry of Communication and the Internet Society of Ghana, and facilitated by the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) of The Netherlands.

In May 2000, MOFA, in partnership with and support from IICD, started the pilot E-Commerce for Non Traditional Exports project in two district of the country, the Ga District in the Greater Accra Region, and the Techiman District in the Brong Ahafo Region. The project was to be replicated in the whole country after the pilot phase

The Ghanaian producers of agricultural non-traditional exports products have been working very hard and under very trying conditions to produce, their standard of living and that of their immediate families does not reflect the work they have been doing. The major reason for this is that they do not get the compliment of their hard work. They have very little or no information at all about potential markets, and/or prices for the commodities they produce. They have no link at all with the potential buyers of their products, in the regional and global markets, and sometimes even in the local markets. They most often than not, have to do with middlemen, who most times pay far less than what is due them.

The main development objective of the project was to:

Provide efficient promotion and increased market access to improve the negotiation position for small and medium scaled producers and traders of non-traditional exports in the local, regional and global markets by the bringing together of the supply of and demand for critical marketing information at the local level.

This was to be chieved by developing:
1. Access to web-based marketing information services by the small adn medium scaled producers and traders/exporters of non-traditional export products.
2. Exposure and promotion of non-traditional export products in the local, regional, and export markets through a web-based information system. (Local web sites for these producers and traders.

Results

The Project has installed computers and assessories in the two districts, and has already trained the farmers and traders in using ICTs to support their work. They are now keeping farm records in simple databases.

"This system is very promising. Already, we have seen some of the benefits because we have sold some yams to an exporter from Accra who saw our website," according to Nana Owusu Gyare, a traditional Chief and a farmer.

Ahmed Suleman, Ghana National 3rd Best Farmer in 2000, is also excited: " I used to go round all over the country looking for people to come and buy my maize. Now with my products on the internet, my travelling will be reduced drastically."

Madam Martha Kumah, the market Queen of the Techiman Market (The largest market in the West African Sub-Region)had this to say "With the internet so close to me at the market, and with my people trained in how to use the Internet, we can put our information on the net. I am also sure that it will now be easier for us to access credit for our business".

These are but a few of the comments made by subscribers to the project.

The success of the project has enabled us get resources to expand the project to eight other districts in the country over the next five years. The pilot has also given given us a lot of experiences to enable us replicate and expand the project to other parts of the country.

Lessons

One major lesson we have learnt is that ICT in NOT only for the learned or the cities. The local farmers and traders, if given the necessary exposure, will use it for their benefit, and improve their living standards.

Other lessons learnt are:
. Connectivity is a major issue in rural Internet usage. With relatively bad telephony in the rural areas, connectivity is a major issue. We have identified some radio equipment that is able to carry data at an appreciable speed. We intend to use this equipment to solve the connectivity issue.

. When people get used to using a technology, the demand for it multiplies an hundred fold. A few months after the computers were installed in the districts and the farmers and traders trained in its use, the demand for it increased so much that the one computer in the district could not stand it. There is always a queue of users waiting to use the facility.

. Content: We learnt that information put on the net should be 'what the users want and not what we think they will want'

Development Impacts

The farmers and traders collect information on their activities and enter it into an access database on the computer at the center. They then print out a report they keep for themselves. Project staff extract relevant information from the databases and develop the web sites which are hosted in the Internet. The project staff also source for other relevant information which is also hosted on the project's website.

The producers and traders dial from the district office into teh MOFA's system to access the information, to send or recieve emails, and search for information on the Internet.

Project Information

Organisation : Ministry of Food & Agriculture
URL : http://www.mofa.gov.gh/ecomm
Total budget in US$ : 25000
Country of activity: Ghana [GH]

Are there any partners involved : yes
What is partners role?: Cooperating agencieis and infromation sharing

Contact Information

Edward Addo-Dankwa
addo_dankwa@hotmail.com

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