When Bawumia Sneezes, Zu-za Catches Cold!

“Unfortunately, many people still do not appreciate the link between digitization and economic development. I have heard some people ask why I have abandoned economics for digitization. Far from abandoning economics, the reality is that in this era, if you don't digitize you will not have much of an economy, PERIOD! Indeed, digital policy is economic policy!”

Those are the words of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the man who makes those under the eagle-headed Umbrella catch cold anytime he sneezes. He is still leading the national conversation with his spirited agenda setting lecture at Ashesi University and those under the Umbrella are struggling to deflect the powerful punches he unleashed. If indeed monkeys play by sizes, why is Zu-za struggling to have anyone to stand toe to toe with the number two man in the Nana Dee government.

Abusuapanin, some of us did not need the lecture at Ashesi to confirm the fact that Bawumia’s digitalization project is yielding fruits. I mentioned in this very column how I received my renewed passport in less than 10 days and in a very hassle-free manner. Hitherto, the renewal of a passport took months and the trouble one had to go through to receive the renewed travel document was an experience no one wanted to remember.

Again, I didn’t need the Bawumia lecture to know the positive effects of digitalization because I had seen with my naked eyes how the Digitized Driver and Vehicle License Application had made the process so smooth. Aside experiencing the smoothness of the process myself, I saw hundreds of applicants who had experienced same.

Not forgetting the innovative Zipline Drone Delivery Project. I vividly remember how those under the Umbrella lampooned the project and described it as a waste of the country’s resources. But they are now very quiet because the benefits the country is deriving from the project has put them to shame. Trust me, I could not hold my tears when I saw the video of a young man thanking Dr. Bawumia for introducing a project which ended up saving his life and that of many others.

Of all the projects under Bawumia’s digitalization agenda, Mobile Money Interoperability is the one that has tickled my fancy the most. I do not remember the last time I visited a bank because I perform all transactions on the phone, courtesy of Bawumia’s vision.

Did I hear you say same would have been done under President Ogwanfunu? Yes, but at what cost? In case you’ve forgotten, Bawumia is the gem that saved the state more than $1 billion by ensuring the cancellation of the dubious Sibton Switch agreement signed by President Ogwanfunu after he had lost the 2016 poll.

It is therefore, laughable to hear the Umbrella folks begging for recognition when they deserve none. The likes of Felix Kwakye Ofosu and Omane Boamah are now singing a new chorus after ridiculing the Bawumia digitalization agenda for many years. They now claim President Ogwanfunu was the one who invested heavily on digital infrastructure. Strange, isn't it?

Assuming their jaundiced claim is right. The question to ask is; then why didn’t the Ogwanfunu government pursue the kind of digitalization agenda we are seeing today? The answer is simple: President Ogwanfunu and his ilk had no inkling about how to use digitalization to transform an economy.

In another breath, you hear the likes of Sammy Gyamfi and Adongo questioning the relevance of digitalization. Me thinks they are simply advertising their ignorance on the fact that digitalization is a means to formalizing and transforming the colonial economic structures by leapfrogging with new technologies. Clearly, they are ignorant of the fact that a Paperless Port Clearing System will save time, increase the country’s revenue and cut down corruption.

Truth be told, the Ogwanfunu government’s approach to digitalization could be likened to a tortoise running a 100 metres race. The snail-paced manner in which that administration handled this sector was so bad that Bawumia had to accelerate same and the results are what we are reaping now.

Frankly, I’m surprised anyone would take the Umbrella seriously when it comes to digitalization. This is the party that failed to do basic collation of results in two consecutive national elections. How can we take them seriously on such matters when their national collation centre could qualify for an internet cafe in Binduri?

See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente!