Employing Actor Network Theory to Explore the Implementation of ICT in the Ghanaian Public Sector: The Case of DVLA

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume III, Issue X, October 2019 | ISSN 2454–6186

Employing Actor Network Theory to Explore the Implementation of ICT in the Ghanaian Public Sector: The Case of DVLA

Albert Akanlisikum Akanferi¹, Isaac Asampana¹, Hannah Ayaba Tanye¹, Henry Akwetey Matey¹, James Ami-Narh²

 ¹Information Technology Studies Department, University of Professional Studies, Accra. Ghana
²Information Services and Technology Directorate, University of Professional Studies, Accra. Ghana

Abstract – Public sector organizations in Ghana have been grappled with reforms over the decades to make them efficient, reliable and effective and also to ensure efficient delivery of goods, works, and services to the general public. This research uses the case study methodology to explore the role of information technology in the public sector reforms at the Drivers Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA) of Ghana. The study employed a qualitative research technique of the four moments of translation of the Actor-Network Theory in the context of New Public Management to analyse the data. The findings of the study recommended that managers of public organisations and other stakeholders in Ghana improve on ICT and IT infrastructure to ensure their operational excellence and efficiency for enterprise collaborations.

Key words -e-government; public sector reform, new public management, actor-network theory, information and communication technology (ICT), information technology

I. INTRODUCTION

There are studies that have noted that public institutions that have deployed information technology in their reform efforts seem to have made some minimal progress in their service delivery performance. For instance, the financial management and accounting, and tax sectors, in Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria have been observed to have yielded some minimal results after reforms[1]. Also, the Malawi government increased grain production through the utilization of information technology by 300,000-400,000 metric tons thereby contributing to food security [2]. Ghana’s food production also increased by an average annual rate of 5.14% from -3.01% since the structural adjustments programmes implemented in the 1980s by Mr. J.J. Rawlings [3], [4]. These programmes included the training of agricultural extension officers, provision of fertilizers and general utilisation of information technology.

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