| Demand for telecommunications services is the key statistic used by telecommunications planners to project requirements for facilities and expected revenues. Yet there are compelling reasons to look beyond traffic demands or revenue per message when planning telecommunications systems for third world countries.; One of the primary purposes of a needs assessment is to help societies identify, plan for, and be responsive to those needs of its citizens that cannot be adequately expressed or addressed through the marketplace. Failure to bring balances in both domestic and international information flows could contribute to development inequities, regional imbalances, and migration to urban areas.; Furthermore, the failure to link major sectors of the society---buyer and seller, administrator and worker, service provider and client, government official and citizen---an not only limit the effectiveness and potential benefits of development efforts, but also actually thwart and distort the development process.; This study attempts to determine the level of telematics usage in Ghana with particular reference to the level of computer literacy and computerization in institutions and organizations in terms of information production and consumption; information sharing networks; and the nature of telecommunications services and facilities provided to networks.; Eighty-four research questions grouped into five major sections were analyzed using the results from hand delivered questionnaires from purposively selected individuals in Ghana. Major findings included: (1) there is an appearance of extended dissemination of information communication technology in Ghana although we cannot sufficiently support that this wide network has been all embracing to the rural poor; (2) the data also presents us with the opportunity to look closely at the positive attitudes of middle level and lower level personnel towards ICTs, a trend which is not only encouragirig, but a support for cautious ICT application in the Ghanaian economy; (3) there is need for a clear partnership between the government and all stakeholders in the planning, implementation and formulation of ICT infrastructure and regulatory policies; (4) and that facilities used in ICT applications are dependent on the sophistication of services provided, an indication that Ghana can continue on this path if and only if clear economic agendas are set to improve on the existing technology in the country while at the same time monitoring its impact on society. |
