Barriers identified for bridging the digital divide in this instance are notable:
According to H. E Alhaji Aliu Mahama,Vice
President of Republic of Ghana, "systematic approaches to policy making aimed at internet accessibility to the rural areas through the construction of the
rural tele-centres in Africa is considered laudable." "He contended that one important factor which has impact on
development is the use of the internet adding that this is linked to
quality of the broadband telephone service. The Ghanian Vice President noted that it is important for developing
countries to realize that IT can only serve as a tool for economic
development if it is treated as an investment good rather than a
consumption good."
Africa - Entering the Chase Late in the Game
From allafrica.com comes a story by Emeka Aginam, Hi-Tech :- Africa Accounts for 1% of Global Internet Users that speaks to Africa's position in the digital divide and what is needed to bridge that gap as quickly as possible. Recent statistics by the Economic Commission for Africa, ECA, have indicated that African countries account for only 1% of the global internet users. While Africa's internet growth stagnates, Internet is at geometric proportion in the developed economies of the world.
infrastructure inadequacy
human capacity inadequacy
government policies
educational handicap
image
insecurity
institutional inadequacies