BARRIERS TO INTERNET AND E-COMMERCE USE BY WOOD EXPORT FIRMS IN GHANA

Internet and e-commerce use for export marketing enables export firms to reach the mass and ensure profitability as it removes all geographical constraints, permits the instant establishment of virtual branches throughout the world, and allows direct and immediate foreign market entry to the smallest of businesses. Today's business life revolves around the internet and has made it compulsory for export firms to use and not an option to consider. However this is not the case of the wood export firms in Ghana. The purpose of the thesis is to describe the Ghana wood industry, the internet, and e-commerce (with emphasis on business-to-business e- commerce), and explore the barriers the firms in this industry face in using e-commerce and discuss about the way forward for these firms. The theoretical part reviews the Ghana wood industry, defines the internet and e-commerce, and provides guidelines and understanding of internet marketing in electronic marketplaces. The major barriers have been investigated in the empirical part by way of face-to-face interviews with the case firms and a meeting with an expert, all in Ghana.

Autorentext

The author is a 23-year old Ghanaian and has schooled and worked in Finland for the past four years. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Vaasa University of Applied Sciences. Any young African who is determined to pioneer youth innovation on the African continent, do not hesitate to contact Emmanuel to share ideas.