U.N. team finds Ghana IT gains continue

From...

by Gideon F. For-Mukwai

(IDG) -- The leader of a United Nations team that visited Ghana recently noted his pleasure, and surprise, at finding the small West African nation already has a law on the books regarding cybercrimes, something many larger nations do not yet have.

Senegalese-born Abdoulaye, Ndiaye led the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) group visiting Ghana to offer advice on electronic-commerce development. Ndiaye, a researcher and consultant, issued a report on the visit, noting that Ghana is making strides in IT, but lacks a consolidated effort to implement e-commerce.

	MESSAGE BOARD
Security on the Net

The aim of the UNECA visit is to offer useful advice on how Ghana can get e-commerce more fully off the ground. Although the country has no national enabling policy for e-commerce and also lacks a regulatory framework, it does have some well-established electronic businesses.

Among the key players that the UNECA team identified are team start-ups like Ghana Mall, Bestbuy Ghana, and epesewa. The start-ups are gaining considerable experience in e-commerce, according to Cletus Nji, an international consultant working on projects in Ghana.

IDG.net INFOCENTER IDG.net main page Free daily newsletters Instant help from the Dummies Network Computerworld Communities

UNECA, however, found that no reliable payment method for e-commerce has been adopted. The Abdoulaye team encouraged dialogue between banking, corporate, Central Bank of Ghana and local credit and debit companies -- Sika Card and Visa Horizon Card.

Another issue is Ghana's lack of precise taxation laws, something the government has reportedly said it will deal with.

German officials warn of Net 'Big Brother'
December 8, 2000
European Commission to set up pan-European cybercrime forum
December 7, 2000
European ISPs could bill customers for cybercrime costs
December 5, 2000
Group voices concern over EU cybercrime plan
December 5, 2000
The Netherlands adopts cybercrime pact
November 30, 2000

Proposed cybercrime laws stir debate at conference
(Computerworld)
French 'unimpressed' by Yahoo appeal to U.S. court
(IDG.net)
No agreement on European rules on electronic waste
(IDG.net)
ACLU blasts library filtering legislation
(InfoWorld.com)
Group voices concern over EU cybercrime plan
(IDG.net)
On the front lines of the anti-hacker war
(The Industry Standard)
Study: Taiwan, Estonia emerge as good places for e-commerce
(Computerworld)
Committee approves watered-down anti-hacker bill
(IDG.net)

Ghana Mall
Bestbuy
epesewa

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.