e-Government in Africa: X Reasons To Go Down This Path

Categorised in: Blog

A move towards e-government in Africa marks a big leap forward in public administration, enhancing efficiency, transparency and service delivery.

Today we summarise our thoughts on why African nations should adopt e-government methods and explore the tangible benefits.

#1: Enhancing Efficiency, Reducing Costs

The e-shift greatly improves operational efficiency. Digitised administrative processes will deliver measurable, streamlined workflows and reduce the paperwork and time required to complete tasks.

According to the African Union, digitising government services can reduce processing times by 50% and administrative costs by up to 25%.

#2: Access to Public Services

E-government platforms provide citizens with easier access to public services, even if they live in remote locations. Remote living is common in Africa, with the World Bank reporting that over 60% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s population lives in rural areas.

E-initiatives can bridge this gap and bring critical services like health care, education and social welfare programmes to a village door at the click of a button.

#3: Transparency and Corruption

Transparency is a cornerstone of good governance and e-government plays an impactful role in this. Corruption is immediately reduced when processes are automated. This is because digital systems enhance the availability of clear audit trails.

According to Transparency International, countries that have launched e-government platforms have seen an inspiring drop in cases of corruption. Rwanda’s e-government system, Irembo, for example, has been instrumental in reducing departmental corruption. This has had a powerful effect on the public’s trust in government services.

#4: Revenue Collection

Tax collection is vital for a country’s ability to grow and develop, and these systems make the collection immeasurably easier!

Digital platforms simplify tax filing, payment processes, tax fraud, cross-tax-funnel analysis and so much more. It makes compliance easier and non-compliance easier to track.

A study by the International Monetary Fund showed that digitising tax administration increases tax collection by up to 20%. Ghana’s introduction of an e-government platform for tax administration, for example, has led to an impressive increase in tax compliance and, most importantly, tax collection.

#5: Public-Private Partnerships

E-government enables businesses to interact with government services easily. Easier business means easier income, which, in turn, means economic growth and innovation.

Nigeria’s Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, on a digital platform, has linked with private sector entities and funnelled financial support to SMEs. This is significant because entrepreneurs drive more than 50% of Nigeria’s economy.

#6: Data Management and Security

Effective data management is a key element for accurate decision-making and policy formulation. E-government systems provide powerful sources for collecting and analysing big data.

This leads to more informed governance over a faster time period, which ultimately leads to better service delivery for tax payers.

Chat with us and embrace e-government processes that will future-proof the long-term success of your government department.