The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has said that the digitalisation drive he championed in the country is yielding fruits, making him focus his energy on that sector instead of responding to cynics on why he has shied away from economic issues.
As an economist who prioritised issues of digitalisation, Dr. Bawumia says many began to question why he has relegated the economy to focus on another sector.
But speaking at the launch of the CitizenApp Monday, October 07, 2024, the Vice President noted that the impact of digitalisation is now clear, making it needless for him to respond to the cynics.
The CitizenApp, designed to serve as a one-stop platform, will allow citizens to access various government services, report issues, and receive real-time updates on public matters. It aims to make processes more efficient and strengthen communication between the public and state institutions.
The flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party explained that every economy thrives on digitalisation, and until those basics are established, it will be difficult to develop the economy.
He explained that he wouldn’t have to respond to those asking that question anymore because the impact of the digitalisation he prioritised is becoming more obvious.
“Indeed, many people have even questioned why an Economist Vice President would often become the forebearer of the various digitalization efforts of the Government of Ghana. I am grateful that I don’t have to answer the cynics anymore, because the answer is becoming more and more obvious every day,” he stated.
Dr. Bawumia continued that the fourth industrial revolution has made digitalisation become a vital part in the development of every economy, highlighting the various areas the country will benefit from once the drive is fully enforced.
“As the world enters the fourth industrial revolution, it has become obvious that no economic strategy can succeed without a strong digital foundation. In key areas such as public administration, trade, education, financial inclusion and healthcare, the absence of digital systems meant that processes were slow, non-transparent, and prone to errors. For example, vehicle registration involving numerous manual steps, requiring citizens to physically visit multiple offices to complete the process.
“Businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), face similar hurdles in registering their operations, obtaining licenses, or accessing financial services. These delays in service delivery not only hurt economic productivity but also create space for inefficiencies and, in some cases, widespread petty corruption. Furthermore, rural areas and underserved communities suffer the most under this analog system, as they are often excluded from the limited services that are concentrated in more urban communities,” he explained.
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