Critical and prospective views on ICTs, governance and people in Africa

Abstract

This paper raises several fundamental issues: Are African States as we know them today able to promote accountable and transparent governance? To what extent is electronic governance pre-conditioned by democracy? What are the linkages between competitive governance and a people-centered ICT utilization? Are ICTs a principal driving force to social and economic progress within the context of globalization? Are development processes mainly driven by the struggle for democracy and all the freedoms or by market forces in full competition? In the "information age" paradigm are ICTs the driving force behind capitalist accumulation? Last but not least, how accountable and efficient the main information and communications projects, programs and strategies launched in Africa in the past decade?