Government Services To Be Accessed Online

The government has established two online service portal platforms to provide the public effective and efficient means of accessing government services online. The portals are the E-service and the Ghana e-Payment Platform (GEPP).

The portals form part of several projects sponsored by the World Bank under the e-Ghana project being implemented by the Ministry of Communications and the National Information Technology Agency (NITA).

These portals are intended to provide trust and confidence in accessing government services online. The service will save time and cost and ensure effectiveness in state business.
 
Government agencies

The Director of Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Communications, Mr Kwesi Agyei Tabi, who made this known when the ministry took its turn at the meet-the-press series in Accra yesterday, said business transaction with all government agencies and departments would be done online.

He said it was the government’s policy to transform the service-delivery regimes of public agencies to enable the agencies to deliver electronic services.

That, he said, would be achieved by focusing on establishing the ground rules for the digital marketplace, enhancing the information infrastructure for e-commerce and maximising the benefits of e-services.

All acquisitions online
Mr Tabi said henceforth the acquisition of passports, driving licences, marriage certificates, police clearance forms, birth certificates, immigration services, business or company registration, tax filing and payment of VAT, NHIL and income tax at the Ghana Revenue Authority would all be done online.

“Indeed, what it means is that it will enable clients to access the services in their homes, offices or anywhere via the Internet and at the same time pay for the services through the GEPP established by NITA,” he said.

The GEPP platform
The GEPP platform allows for payments via Visa card, Masterclass, e-transact card, MTN and Airtel mobile money, as well as cash or cheque, while applicants could pay for courier services such as the Ghana Post EMS or DHL for the delivery of items requested.

Mr Tabi underscored the fact that the portal infrastructure deployed in the country in support of the e-governance initiative was a strong statement of the government’s commitment to Ghanaians and the entire online community.