Technology and Enterprise Development: Ghana under Structural Adjustment

Abstract

Technology is one of the primary determinants of the competitiveness of manufacturing firms. Since practically all the technologies in use are imported from the developed countries and their application is known and understood, it is widely believed that developing country firms need to invest little on their own in technological effort. This book is the first detailed attempt to assess technological capabilities in an African country. It is a study of a sample of manufacturing enterprises in Ghana. A country undergoing structural adjustment since the mid-1980s. It develops further and applies the methodology used in past analyses of technological capabilities in developing countries. Its findings cast fresh light on the problems of industrial development in Africa and on the effects of rapid liberalization programs. The policy conclusions drawn are of relevance to other countries at early stages of industrial development. This study was part of the World Bank's Regional Program for Enterprise Development (RPED), which was intended to analyses the dynamics of enterprise growth in several countries in Sub Saharan Africa Ghana is the first country to be studied in this program. This study does not; therefore attempt to address the issues covered by these other modules. The enterprises in Ghana that gave generously of their time and information are too numerous to mention individually.