Paper Type
Complete
Abstract
Government digital transformation is a priority in sub-Saharan Africa, yet the link between governance and actual digital outcomes remains complex. This study examines this relationship in Ghana’s public sector using the 2025 Government ICT Maturity Index (GIMI) survey, which covers 167 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Drawing on the Technology-Organization-Environment framework, Resource-Based View, and institutional theory, the research employs PLS-SEM to analyze a five-construct path model. Descriptive findings indicate a significant gap between well-established governance structures and lagging outcomes in digital services, cybersecurity, and innovation, a phenomenon aligned with institutional decoupling. The structural model reveals that governance does not directly produce transformation; instead, it operates through indirect pathways, with cybersecurity serving as a critical mediator. These results highlight the need to move beyond formal mandates, positioning cybersecurity as a strategic enabler rather than a mere compliance function for achieving digital government maturity.
Paper Number
1873
Recommended Citation
Adam, Ibrahim Osman; Mohammed, Haruna; Kevor, Mark-Oliver; and Osei, Yaw Buadu, "Does Governance Translate to Transformation? Direct and Mediated Pathways to Digital Government Maturity in Ghana’s Public Sector" (2026). AMCIS 2026 Proceedings. 15.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2026/egov/sig_egov/15
Does Governance Translate to Transformation? Direct and Mediated Pathways to Digital Government Maturity in Ghana’s Public Sector
Government digital transformation is a priority in sub-Saharan Africa, yet the link between governance and actual digital outcomes remains complex. This study examines this relationship in Ghana’s public sector using the 2025 Government ICT Maturity Index (GIMI) survey, which covers 167 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Drawing on the Technology-Organization-Environment framework, Resource-Based View, and institutional theory, the research employs PLS-SEM to analyze a five-construct path model. Descriptive findings indicate a significant gap between well-established governance structures and lagging outcomes in digital services, cybersecurity, and innovation, a phenomenon aligned with institutional decoupling. The structural model reveals that governance does not directly produce transformation; instead, it operates through indirect pathways, with cybersecurity serving as a critical mediator. These results highlight the need to move beyond formal mandates, positioning cybersecurity as a strategic enabler rather than a mere compliance function for achieving digital government maturity.
Comments
SIG E-GOV