A professor of Economics at the University of Ghana, William Baah Boateng, has urged the government to increase investment in technology in the labour sector to increase productivity to accelerate the country’s development.
He specifically says the country can achieve higher productivity growth if technology is deployed in the delivery of government services.
It shouldn’t be difficult for the generality of the people to accept this position because even though there is the private sector as it is the case in every country, it is the government that controls both the public and the private sectors of the economy in terms of policy and legislation.
The principal role of the government in driving the growth of the economy is to provide the essential services for carrying out agriculture, commerce, industrial activities, transportation, real estate and other activities.
If it is really the case that about 80 per cent of the country’s work force is in the private sector, then it is this sector that drives the economy, yet it needs some government services to thrive and play its role as the engine of growth of the economy.
And no doubt, looking at what is generally going on in the country currently, increased use of technology would boost productivity.
All things being equal by way of having a healthy labour force, one factor that boosts productivity is time.
Most of the current arrangements in the country for securing government services involves too many face-to-face interactions, characterised by queuing or endless waiting, which are time-consuming.
Sometimes, certain public-sector workers responsible for delivering such services create artificial delays to feed their corrupt desires by way of making those who need their services think they are performing uphill tasks and deserve some monetary rewards to motivate them to fast-track the process in favour of the clients.
Sometimes, these service providers just put certain impediments on the way of clients just to frustrate them and thus use the situation as a ploy to demand bribes.
Do the public-sector workers consider the risks and the financial resources involved in making clients travel to and fro their offices many times before they attempt to provide the services for which they are paid by the state?
The case is worse when the services are centralised at the national and regional capitals.
If technology is used in such situations, the people can avoid the high risks, waste of time and payments of bribes.
At the end of the day, time gained can be used to increase productivity and the financial resources saved can be put to other uses, including boosting capital for enhanced production.
Granting these problems were not happening anymore, using technology to provide government services means more of such services could be provided within a certain stipulated period for the benefit of both individuals and organisations.
In today’s world, using technology in all aspects of provision of goods and services, whether in the public and the private sectors, is the norm and so the government must spearhead and encourage it through the services it provides businesses, other organisations and individuals.
To this end, the government must provide the necessary infrastructure to ensure effective use of technology to increase productivity in the country to enhance its growth.