The attempt to integrate ICTs into the education system in Ghana has existed close to two decades following the adoption of the ICT for Accelerated Development (ICTAD) policy in 2003. However, empirical quantitative studies to analyse the access of basic schools to electricity, which is the major power of technology devices, over the period appear non-existent. This article is a descriptive quantitative analysis of basic school access to electricity for the academic years 2010 / 2011 to 2017/2018 using secondary data obtained from the Educational Management and Information System (EMIS) through the lens of Access Theory. The study was undertaken using secondary educational statistical data and document reviews as data sources. The results of the data analysis indicate a low electricity access rate in basic schools in the Northern Region of the country. The study concludes that the gap between the ICT in education policy rhetoric and the reality in ICT for education (ICT4E) at the Ghanaian basic school level appears unhealthy and requires stakeholders’ immediate attention to realize the desired impact of ICT in education policy if the goal of the country to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 10 need to be success. The findings of these studies provide valuable insights for policymakers and education stakeholders in designing effective policies and interventions to improve access to electricity and promote the integration of ICT in basic education.

This paper examines the security issues on electronic commerce websites in Ghana using technical and nontechnical procedures. The study assessed e-commerce websites for the security tools employed to protect user data and other related privacy issues on the websites. It also analyzed e-commerce websites for encryption security tools that protect customer data and test e-commerce websites for the presence of security vulnerabilities that could threaten the security of the sites and their users using w3af. The study used a combination of three methods; web content analysis, information security audit and testing of the websites using w3af, a vulnerability assessment tool. Web application attack and audit framework (w3af) was used to test and identify possible vulnerabilities on the e-commerce websites that could be used by malicious users to steal customer data for fraudulent intent. The research focused to reveal the security vulnerabilities present on e-commerce websites that could affect the trust of clients, the satisfaction of clients, and patronage of e-commerce services by customers. The study found credit card number disclosures, full path disclosures vulnerabilities, cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities and social security number exposures of clients on the e-commerce websites. These security weaknesses in these e-commerce websites have been highlighted as findings in the study that would inform policy direction on electronic data collection, protection and use in the e-commerce industry in Ghana. The findings will also inform industry players in the e-commerce sector on the need to strengthen security on their websites and caution customers to be security conscious on all e-commerce websites. The major significance of the study is the fact that majority of the electronic commerce websites have a lot of vulnerabilities making them unsecure for customers to trust their private data into their care. This study as such informs the customer society and the electronic commerce industry of these security weaknesses and the urgent need to get them fixed. Some solutions have been suggested in the paper to assist in fixing these security vulnerabilities. These solutions have provided the best results. A diligent application of these methods in addressing the vulnerabilities would provide a more secure and less vulnerable e-commerce websites for users. The precautions suggested could assist protect customers and reduce cyber threats during online shopping.

This paper examines the privacy and security issues on electronic commerce websites in Ghana. Ghana is reported to have an Internet users’ rate of 27.8% and a mobile Internet subscription of 14% in 2017. The study assessed e-commerce websites for privacy policies that are meant to guide and inform website users on the collection of customer data, data use, protection and other related privacy issues on personal data. The study also analyzed e-commerce websites for encryption security tools that protect customer data and test e-commerce websites for the presence of security vulnerabilities that could threaten the sites and their users. The study used a combination of three methods; web content analysis, information security audit and testing of the websites using penetration testing tools for data collection and analysis. Nmap was used to test and identify possible vulnerabilities on the e-commerce websites that could be used by malicious users to steal customer data for fraudulent intent. The research revealed the presence or otherwise of privacy policies on e-commerce websites. The security weaknesses in these e-commerce websites have been highlighted as findings in the study. The findings of the study will inform policy direction on electronic data collection, protection and use in the e-commerce industry in Ghana is on areas that bother on privacy and security of the customer could be given attention. The findings will also inform industry players in the e-commerce sector on the need to strengthen security on their websites.