Using Smartphones to Bring Better Services to Citizens in Ghana - Video

This World Bank video on solid waste disposal in Ghana explains the root causes of solid waste contamination in urban Ghana resulting from rapid economic development. It explains the link between diseases like cholera and malaria that result from open dumping of garbage that exacerbates disease conditions, particular in the rainy seasons. The video shows the use of information and communication technology (ICT) tools to pressure municipal governments to address the problems. These include the use of mobile phones and the cameras they contain to post images and reports of sanitation needs and websites addressed to municipal authorities.

World Bank representatives acknowledge the struggle for municipalities to locate funds for services. The World Bank recommendations involve transparency in the expenditure of budgets, including web posting of budgets that will show the redirection of money to waste disposal, among other municipal services to document for citizens the efforts of municipalities to provide services.