Public urged to use gov’t Online Services Portals

Dr Edward Omane Buamah, Minister of Communication has urged the public to use Ghana Government Online Services Portals (e-Services) and Ghana e-Payment Platform (GEPP) for effective and efficient delivery of government services.

He said the platform, created by the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) with support from the World Bank is the quickest way of accessing government services and transacting business with Government Agencies and departments online.

Dr Omane Buamah, who said this in a speech read for him at the meet-the-press series on Thursday, said the portal infrastructure deployed in the country in support of the electronic governance initiative is a strong statement of commitment of government to Ghanaians and the online community.

He said the portals intended to provide trust and confidence to accessing services online with the benefits of time saved, cost reduced, convenient enjoyed, among other things, and broadly enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.

The public can now access services such as request for a true certified copy of birth certificate from Births and deaths Registry; request for marriage license from Accra Metropolitan Assembly; request for Police Background Check Report from Police CID, and apply for passport Online from Passport Office on the portals.

Other services include request of hotel accommodation and catering services from Ghana Tourism Authority; Business/ Company, Marriage and Estate Administration Registration from Registrar General’s Department, and online tax filing and payment of VAT/ National Health Insurance levy/Income Tax at Ghana Revenue Authority.

The portals are one-stop shop window for government services and information and all that one needed is to log onto e-Services.gov.gh to access services of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies on the portal.

Dr Buamah said the portals would 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 government online payment platform established by NITA.

The GEPP platform allow for payment via Visa Card, MasterCard, e-Transact Card, MTN Mobile, Airtel Mobile Money, Cash and Cheque. With the GEPP platform, online applicants can pay for courier services such as the Ghana Post EMS and DHL for delivery of items requested.

The Minister said it is the government’s policies to transform the service delivery regime of public agencies to enable them deliver electronic services by focusing on building trust for users and consumers; establishing ground rules for the digital market place; enhancing the information infrastructure for e-Commerce, and maximising the benefits of e-Service.

He said government has addressed the necessary elements such as extending and upgrading of digital infrastructure; affordable access to telephone and internet services, literacy, creation of enabling environment for successful start-ups, content and developing of a public key infrastructure system to enhance and build trust in online communication and commerce.

Veronica Boateng, Director, Application Systems at National Information Technology Agency said the portals started piloting from December 2014 and would end in December 2015.

She said at the beginning of the pilot phase things were not easy for operators but through training and putting in appropriate measures they were able to correct the initial challenges and the portals are now operating efficiently.

She said currently other departments, agencies and institutions also on the platform include Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana Revenue Authority, Food and Drugs Authority, Mineral’s Commission, National Communications Authority, NITA and National Identification Authority.

Ghana Immigration service is yet to come on board, she said, and announced plans to broaden the platform to bring in more agencies and institutions on to the platform.

Ms Boateng said to ensure safety, they established Data Protection Commission to protect the public from activities of hikers and that the Commission determines sanctions to be imposed on hikers.