[governance] ccTLDs - potential source of income for developing countries?

[yehudakatz at mailinator.com]

Kwasi,

Take a moment ....

You can be a 'Big Fish' in a small pond ...
Or
You can be a 'Small Fish' in a big pond ...

Aside from all the things Ghana must overcome in itself,
.gh must mature in its own,
Before
.gh can be competitive in the ccTDL arena.

-

If Ghanaian's were to develop web sites in their own mother-tongue with english
as a second language, so that interactive exchange can grow within Ghana into a
saturation point, upon which .gh would be ready for ccTDL competition.

Ghana has eight (8) languages:
Akan, Twi, Dagbani, Fante, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, Ga, English
How many web sites are representative of these languages in the .gh domain?

Ghanaians can't even register (go to a .gh registration site) a domain in their
native language, seem to me GhNIC should at least offer web-pages in a
selection of Ghana's local languages. 

Cost, you are absolutely right in questioning the cost of the .gh domains.  I
found a .gh register charging a 35$ annual fee.

For a Country whos GDP/Capita is $1,900 annually, 35$ is very disproportionate.
Ghanaian Citizens need to address this (protest), especially when a .info
domain can be purchased at 10$ etc..

Personally I would not be opposed to an underdeveloped country having a
two-tier pricing methood, a price for Ghanaians and a price for the rest of the
world.

The 'Point' is, Ghanaian's need to get behind .gh before the rest of the world
will.

-

TO Answer your questions directly:

1. ccTLDs - potential source of income for developing countries?
aws: NO - not until they reach a saturation point.

2. Are there any direct benefits of ccTLDs to: countries?
aws: To the Country itself yes, a smaller benefit lies outside the Country
(Internationally)

3. Are there any direct benefits of ccTLDs to: businesses?
aws: Its an open market competition, 
Better to be a Big Fish in a small pond (have a safety-net)
rather than a Small Fish in a big pond.

Ghanaian businesses looking to enter the big pond, must have a 
industrial-base ready along with the opportunity (right place at the right
time).
Think of how the Japanese entered the US auto market, 
(right place at the right time)

-

http://go.hrw.com/atlas/norm_htm/ghana.htm

http://www.nic.gh/
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