Speakers
Description
Mobile government (m-government) services have emerged as critical tools for enhancing public service delivery, yet adoption rates in developing countries such as Ghana remain suboptimal despite high rates of mobile penetration. This study addresses the gap in understanding the factors that influence m-government adoption in Ghana, citizens increasingly demand for accessible digital government services yet, limited usage. The research aims to identify the key determinants of m-government’s acceptance and provide insights for improving digital service delivery strategies in developing economies. The study employed the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework to examine the factors influencing m-government adoption. Data for the study were collected through structured online surveys administered to Ghanaian citizens with mobile phone access. The collected data were then analyzed using structural equation modeling via SmartPLS to test the hypothesized relationships between UTAUT constructs and m-government adoption intentions and actual usage.
The analysis revealed that performance expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions significantly predict behavioral intention to use m-government services in Ghana. Behavioral intention demonstrated a strong positive effect on actual m-government usage. Interestingly, effort expectancy, while positively related to intention, did not show statistical significance, suggesting that perceived ease of use may be less critical in this context as compared to performance benefits and social factors. The findings validate the applicability of the UTAUT model in the Ghanaian m-government context and provide actionable insights for policymakers and technology implementers. The results recommends that governments should focus on demonstrating clear performance benefits of m-government services, leveraging social networks for promotion, and investing in robust technological infrastructure. This research contributes to the extant empirical literature on m-government adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa and offers practical recommendations for enhancing digital governance strategies in similar developing country contexts.
Keywords: Mobile government, technology adoption, digital governance, citizen services, developing countries