Gender Differences in ICT Use Among Small Business Owners in Ghana

Abstract

In the last two decades, microfinance institutions across regions have helped to financially build small businesses in areas of disadvantaged populations. The efforts in providing entrepreneurs with small non-collateralized loans (or micro-loans) along with developing cooperative programs for entrepreneurs were reported in earlier studies as being helpful in alleviating some borrowers from extreme economic poverty. However, early warning signals were raised about whether microfinance institutions were benefiting themselves more than the poor. This article assesses the differences in attitudes toward the use of information and communication technology among small business owners in Ghana that have access to micro-loans. The findings indicate significant differences between interest payers and interest non-payers based on region of the country, age, education, and membership in an entrepreneurship program.