Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has highlighted the importance of digital innovation in driving national development.
Speaking at the launch of CitizenApp at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra on Monday, Dr. Bawumia stressed that digital transformation is essential for boosting productivity, creating jobs, and fostering wealth creation for Ghanaians.
“Digital innovation is the key to boosting productivity, creating jobs, and fostering wealth creation for all Ghanaians,” Dr. Bawumia remarked.
He noted that since 2017, under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the government has made significant strides in transforming Ghana’s economy through digitalization.
Dr. Bawumia outlined how Ghana’s economy, prior to this transformation, operated largely under manual systems, which resulted in inefficiencies, delays, and corruption in service delivery.
“Before 2017, digitalization was not part of our development strategy. Government services were slow and cumbersome, leaving many underserved communities without access to basic services,” he stated.
Through initiatives such as the Ghana Card, mobile money interoperability, the digital property addressing system, and the Ghana.gov platform, the government has streamlined public services and made them more accessible to citizens.
These platforms have increased financial inclusion, addressed issues related to tax collection, and improved transparency across various sectors.
“Our goal has not been just to fix the old systems, but to build entirely new, efficient ones,” Dr. Bawumia said, citing a recent visit to Estonia, one of the world’s most digitalized countries, as a source of inspiration for Ghana’s digital journey.
The Vice President emphasized that the launch of CitizenApp marks another major step in this transformation, offering a unified platform where citizens can easily access services like renewing driver's licenses, paying taxes, and receiving healthcare.
As Ghana continues to embrace the fourth industrial revolution, Dr. Bawumia reaffirmed the government's commitment to making digital innovation a central pillar of its economic strategy.
“We must seize the opportunities that this revolution presents. It is the foundation for a more productive, inclusive, and prosperous economy,” he concluded.
The CitizenApp is expected to significantly enhance the country's digital infrastructure, making government services more efficient and creating opportunities for economic growth.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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