ASSESSING THE READINESS OF THE SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN BUREAUCRACIES FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN GOVERNANCE

This paper discusses how Sub-Saharan Africa bureaucracies are institutionally prepared to transform their governance system to digital based on comparative case studies of Ghana, Rwanda, and Nigeria. It examines the nexus of bureaucratic reform and digital innovation in the history, politics and socio-economic context of the region. Although some efforts like the Irembo platform in Rwanda and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) in Nigeria are positive signs, institutional stagnation, insufficient infrastructure, digital illiteracy, and poor policy execution are still apparent. The paper is based on New Public Management (NPM), Digital Era Governance (DEG) and Institutional Theory in highlighting the influences of historical legacies and organisational cultures on digital reform outcomes. Results indicate that the use of technology is not enough to promote sustainable change; to create a long-term change, one should invest into human capacity, coordinate the efforts of different agencies, and change the culture. The article ends with the policy recommendations that emphasize collaboration on the regional level, capacity building, and creation of inclusive digital ecosystems. Such actions will offer a framework within which the readiness of bureaucracy can be evaluated and future reforms in digital governance in Africa can be aligned.