In an era where digital connectivity plays a pivotal role in economic growth and societal development, the assessment of factors that influence mobile penetration becomes increasingly important. This project delves into the intricate relationship between smartphone import duty changes and mobile penetration in Ghana's economy. The methods employed for this evaluation are the synthetic control method and the framework method, offering a robust framework for analyzing the impact of policy interventions on economic indicators. The project also analyzes how the way in which Ghana’s citizens use internet technology is impacted based on demographic information such as population density and gender.

Ghana, a treatment country in the experiment involving the synthetic control method, witnessed a notable import duty adjustment on smartphones, transitioning from a 20% to 10% rate in 2016. To gauge the outcomes of this policy shift, a meticulously selected set of 20 control countries was employed. These control nations closely resembled Ghana in terms of regional attributes, GDP, and size, yet remained untouched by similar interventions. This controlled comparison provided a dependable foundation to measure the effect of the import duty change.

To comprehensively understand the implications, the analysis considered a spectrum of economic metrics, including GNI per capita, CPI, internet usage, population density, smartphone penetration, and other pertinent variables. By assessing correlations among these factors, the project aimed to uncover potential relationships between policy interventions, economic conditions, and mobile penetration. Ultimately, this project underscores the significance of policy decisions, such as import duty adjustments, in shaping mobile penetration trends. 

To generate understanding on how Ghana’s citizens use smartphone and internet technology, a total of 42 case study interviews from 2021 were taken from different regions around the country and analyzed. In examining the various usages of smartphones, such as promoting business products through WhatsApp status or sending and receiving money from the MTN app, the wide array show insights into the effectiveness of smartphones as well as how various demographics, such as gender and rural or urban settings, can play a role into how these may differ.

The results produced in this project have implications on policy making, software development, and expansion of technologies in other nations all around the world.