Ghana Goes Digital

Digitization is the conversion of analog information into digital information. In other words, it is the process of doing things online instead of doing it manually. The developed countries in the world invested huge sums of money into digitization before attaining the status. Likes of United States of America, Japan, China and England are leading the world due to their rigorous technological systems.

In Ghana, the destiny of our technology rest on the shoulders of an astute economist called “Dr. Mahamudu Bawumiah” the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana. The economic genius has defied the odds and championed the course of digitization and has made unprecedented strides in the area of digitization in Ghana. This may seem over-hyped to you but don’t worry. I will take you through some of the digitization projects he has spearheaded so far.

The under-listed points are some of the digitization initiatives instituted by Dr.Bawumiah;

Introduction of a new Mobile App for electricity company of Ghana. With this app, about 2.8million out of 3.8 million ECG customers immediately have convenience and easier way of buying electrical power and making payments concurrently. In the past, one would have to visit a nearby ECG office before payments can be made. With this, one can sit in the comfort of his/her home and perform the transaction via mobile phone or computer thereby easing the stress that comes with payments.

Introduction of Zipline Technology’s, a medical drone program, which is helping in healthcare delivery especially to hard-to-reach communities of Ghana.

Delivery of healthcare items to health facilities in rural areas especially chips compounds required a vehicle to convey them to the remote areas but with this

system the drone carries it to these areas without complications and lessening the cost transporting them to the areas via vehicles. This has improved the delivery system in the health sector and enhanced services as well.

Digitizing health records and renewal of National Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS) via mobile phones resulting in average renewal of 70,000 renewals in a week since its launch. The overwhelming number of renewals recorded in a week happens to be unprecedented in the history of NHIS. This clearly shows how helpful it has been. Unlike previously that you would have to join a queue and stand under the scorching sun for a couple of hours sometimes it takes days before one gets registered. With this system, joining queues and standing in the sun has become a thing of the past.

National digital property address system which provides Ghanaians with a peculiar permanent digital address linked to post codes. This has made identification of properties easier and faster. If one wants to identify a property, just enter the postcode in the search box of the address system and everything will pop-up instantly. It has also helped the security agencies to fish out criminals by using the address system to track them.

Passport application has been made available online. Where ever one finds himself with a good internet connection one can apply for it without hassles.

Scholarship applications can be done online. Previously, residents in rural areas hardly gets scholarship because they can’t afford to travel to various scholarship secretariats in the urban areas hence they don’t benefit. Since the introduction of this system, the number of applicants soared thereby resulting in an increase in the number of beneficiaries too.

Paperless system at the port. Now that operations at the port have been digitized, people go through less hassle to procure their items. Although at the initial stages of the implementation there were complications with the system but as time goes on things begin to stabilize. Currently, the complaints have shrunk just because the personnel have acquainted themselves with how to operate the system. The issue of bribery has declined due to the introduction of this system.

Others include; digitizing registration forms for businesses,e-justice system that allows automated service of the court processes with speed and ease,e- procurement, biometric issuance of national ID, Mobile money interoperability which allows financial inclusion and cashless payment for public services and digital driver’s license/registration.

The aforementioned initiatives are the digitization projects master-minded by Dr. Bawumiah. I would like to applaud him for implementing such a great initiative and we encourage him to continue pursuing this agenda till Ghana becomes fully digitized nation.

I would also admonish various political parties to embed in their policies or manifesto digitization programs to fast-track processes in our various businesses that would aid the country to reach the level of technologically inclined countries in the world.

NB: views expressed here are devoid of politics!!!

Author; Sackey Benjamin popularly known as Information minister a student of university of Ghana, legon!

Contact:0243304043