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The Role of E-Government, Political Will & Accountability in Reducing Corruption in Ghana

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The global surge in technological advancements and the consequential ubiquity of the internet have revolutionized governance and business operations. This transformation, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has propelled governments to leverage electronic means for enhanced service delivery. In Ghana, the potential of e-government in reducing corruption has been widely discussed. Corruption, a pervasive global issue, particularly hampers the progress of developing nations like Ghana, eroding transparency, accountability, and good governance, thereby fostering economic inequality and inefficient resource utilization. This research delves into the intricate relationship between e-government, political will, and accountability—integral facets of Ghana's multifaceted strategy to reduce corruption. With a focus on the Ghanaian context, the study aims to bridge existing research gaps by investigating how education, gender, and age moderate the relationship between e-government and corruption, as well as the mediating role of transparency in this connection. Five central research questions guide the study, exploring relationships and potential moderating and mediating factors. Data, sourced from 323 Ghanaian citizens and six interviewees, underwent comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analyses. The findings reveal negative correlations between e-government, political will, and accountability with corruption, indicating their potential in corruption reduction. While quantitative analysis did not establish education, gender, and age as significant moderators, qualitative insights suggested nuanced influences on the e-government-corruption relationship. Significantly, transparency emerged as a crucial mediator, underscoring its pivotal role in the interplay between e-government and corruption in Ghana. This study underscores the imperative of comprehending these dynamics to effectively reduce corruption in Ghana, offering valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in the realms of governance, technology, and anti-corruption initiatives.
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