The Minister for Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has emphasised that the flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, are poised to build on the solid foundation of digitalization, laid by the Akufo-Addo administration.
Addressing the gathering at the NPP Manifesto launch on Sunday, August 19, 2024 Mr. Oppong Nkrumah highlighted the transformative impact of digitalization on the Ghanaian economy and society and outlined the duo’s commitment to further formalising the economy through innovative digital interventions.
“The Akufo-Addo administration, with the strong support of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, adopted digitization. The Ghanaian economy, as you know, is hugely informal and any Economist with a soul knows that there’s a need to formalise the Ghanaian economy, to formalise it through digitalization,” Mr. Nkrumah stated.
Mr. Nkrumah reflected on the skepticism that initially greeted the government’s digitalization agenda, noting that critics had underestimated its potential.
“When President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia first mentioned digitalization, as usual, the naysayers did not believe them. They didn’t understand the vision. They mocked, they joked and they called them names. But today, digitalization is bearing fruit for many Ghanaians,” he remarked.
The Minister outlined several key achievements of the digitalization drive, including the overhaul of the national ID system, the introduction of a robust mobile interoperability platform, and the implementation of a digital addressing system.
He also highlighted the use of drones to deliver essential medical supplies across the country, as well as the digitalization of government services, which has enhanced efficiency and accessibility for citizens.
“Today, there has been a boost in e-commerce and deliveries, creating jobs for thousands of Ghanaians. There has been an increase in access to credit because it is easier for credit agencies and lenders to identify people and to identify where they live,” he said.
He also lauded the Ghana Card’s role in reducing payroll fraud and its linkage to e-SIM registration, which has helped curb identity and mobile money fraud.
“The Ghana Card has reduced the number of ghost names on our payroll and, in return, saved the Republic millions of Ghana cedis,” he added.
“Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh will build upon this digitalization foundation, moving forward. Ghana’s economy requires the next level of formalisation and you can be sure that Dr. Bawumia and Dr. Opoku Prempeh will take us there,” he declared.
