MOBILE PHONE ADOPTION FOR SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT PROCESSES: A CASE STUDY OF RURAL SHEA PROCESSORS IN NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

Over the years, mobile phones have been used extensively for information delivery and trainings in areas of agriculture, health, education as well as trade in the areas of commerce (e-commerce), leading to its wide expansion, most especially in developing countries. Most rural people who do not have access to formal education are marginalized in using the mobile phone to assess information and related services. The researcher employed mixed methods approach for the study. The first two objectives of this study were to assess mobile phone ownership among Shea processors and explore the potentials of Shea processors in accessing the flows in a supply chain using the mobile phone. Using the tools of observation, interviews and advocacy/ participatory worldwide research paradigm, the study found that-Majority of Shea processors owe mobile phones. Also there exist a huge potential of Shea processors in assessing digital services via mobile phones. Even as more Shea processors would wish to do voice communication, only 27.6% of them can selfmake calls compared to 72.4% who cannot self-make calls and thus had to rely on literate people to search phone contact and make calls for them. There is a crave for MoMo transactions by Shea processors as some Shea processors are registered for MoMo though, do not have mobile phones. Illiteracy among Shea processors is still a key challenge to accessing digital services as majority of Shea Processors had no formal education and thus could be marginalized in accessing complex digital services via mobile phones.