E-Readiness analysis for Ho based on questionnaire (see appendix). The electricity supply within the local government area is good. Most households have access to a radio. A large number of homes have access to a TV and the mobile phone access is high. The availability of computers to households was very low with the cost of inter- net access being extremely high for most households. Prices are just too prohibitive for
most residents. These two factors combined means that accessing information from the internet is a preserve of only a few.
On governance, responses indicate that the local government authority’s commit- ment to the use of ICT for service delivery is just within an average range and these executives themselves have an above average competence in basic computer skills such as browsing the internet, sending emails and creating documents. The staff of the local government has an average level of competence in basic computer skills.
The most important channel of information fl ow between the different depart- ments and staff of the local government was person-to-person. The next in intensity of use was via telephone.
Most respondents said only 0-25% of the local government staff has access to a computer. A few said the range was slightly higher at 50-75%. My deduction therefore is that only a few of the local government staff has access to a computer. Some of the staff has had some personal in-service training of software applications.
The local government authority has a website at: http://ho.ghanadistricts.gov.gh/ that has information such as description of the municipality, news and events, pictures of ongoing development projects within the municipality, and contact details of the executive heads.
The main channels of communication between the general public and business on one hand, and the local government authority on the other, was still largely over the counter; meaning face-to-face. Telephone was next in intensity of use followed by mail/fax or courier. For now video conferencing technology has not been used.
The creation of Community Information Centres in all Zonal Councils to aid rural and urban connectivity and the connection of the administration to the internet are some ICT E-Governance initiatives currently underway within the municipality. With regards to ICT policies and guidelines, those relating to the introduction and learning of ICT in schools and of rural-urban connectivity are in place.
Schools within the local government have an extremely limited amount of comput- ers for the use of students and teaching staff. Learners with disabilities have an almost nonexistent possibility to access spacialised computers for their use. Teachers and train- ers’ skills to teach with computers and how to integrate them into classroom learning is very low. Residents have an average level of awareness and understanding of the po- tential of ICT for development. ICT related education/ awareness that take place at the community level include basic computing (MS word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) mobile phone repairs, sensitization of the people about the potential of ICT for devel- opment, encouragement to go to the internet cafés to set up email accounts and com- municate via email. Respondents did not know if the local government had had any experiences in utilising ICT for cultural/heritage entertainment products or services. Respondents either did not know or were not themselves aware if there had been any earlier ICT related survey on the e-competence or e-infrastructure of the local govern- ment area.
4 Tanzania
4.1 Background and Government
The United Republic of Tanzania was formed out of the union of two sovereign states namely Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Tanganyika became a sovereign state on 9th Decem- ber, 1961 and became a Republic the following year. Zanzibar became independent on 10th December, 1963 and the People’s Republic of Zanzibar was established after the revolution of 12th January, 1964. The two sovereign republics formed the United Republic of Tanzania on 26th April, 1964. However, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania is a unitary republic consisting of the Union Government and the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government44. The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania is a unitary republic based on multiparty parliamentary democracy. All state authority in the United Republic are exercised and controlled by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar. Each Central Government has three organs: The Executive; Judiciary; and The Legis- lature that have powers over the conduct of public affairs. In addition, Local Govern- ment Authorities assist each central government45.
All state authority in the United Republic are exercised and controlled by the Gov- ernment of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar. Each Central Government has three organs: The Executive; Judiciary; and the Legislature that have powers over the conduct of public affairs. The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has authority over all Union Matters in the United Republic and over all other matters concerning Mainland Tanzania, and the Revolu- tionary Government of Zanzibar has authority in Tanzania Zanzibar over all matters, which are not Union Matters46.
Prior to 1995, there was one-party rule with the fi rst democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s. Zanzibar’s semi-autonomous status and popular oppo- sition have led to two contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won despite international observers’ claims of voting irregularities47. The United Republic of Tanzania is divided into 26 (21 mainland and 5 Zanzibar) administrative regions Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Man- yara, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzi- bar North, Zanzibar Urban/West. These are divided into 130 administrative districts (Zanzibar has 10 and Mainland has 120 administrative districts)48.
Local Government Authorities assist each central government. Local Government Authorities exist for the purpose of consolidating and giving more power to the peo- ple to competently participate in the planning and implementation of development programmes within their respective areas and generally throughout the country. Local Government Authorities are classifi ed into two categories. Urban authorities are re- sponsible for the administration and development of urban areas ranging from town- ships, municipalities and cities of Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. Rural Authorities com-
44 http://www.tanzania.go.tz/profi le1f.html 45 http://www.tanzania.go.tz/administration.html 46 http://www.tanzania.go.tz/administration.html
monly known as District Councils form the second category. All Local Government Authorities are mandated to play two main functions of administration, law and order; and economic and development planning in their respective areas of jurisdiction49.