Bawumia Pushes For Innovative Technology

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has underlined the need for increasing use of innovative technology to add value to the nation's raw materials for optimal financial benefits.

He said technology application in the processing of agricultural produce and exploitation of mineral resources, was the way forward to achieve accelerated socio-economic development.

It was the path to travel to make the government's vision of moving Ghana beyond aid, a dream come true.

He was speaking at the launch of the 'Mobex Africa Tech Expo' - a technology trade show, organized by the Coasters Company Limited, in Accra.

This is being held under the theme 'Enhancing economic prosperity through retail technology and financial innovation'.

The three-day event is providing a platform for innovators, young entrepreneurs and policy makers to discuss strategies to leverage technology to facilitate economic growth and attract investments.

Vice President Bawumia spoke of prioritization of the study of mathematics and sciences to help build a society of innovators to solve socio-economic challenges.

That, he said, was how to aid the world of work and bring about rapid progress.

He made reference the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of financial inclusion and said, the government, through the Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS) rolled out the Mobile Money Interoperability Payment platform, to make online purchases and remittances easier, affordable, convenient and secure.

The payment platform would facilitate the transfer of monies from mobile wallet account across the various mobile networks and ensure financial inclusion.

'We're creating favourable and conducive environment for the country and technological platform to attract massive investments from global giants with innovative approaches to business.

I believe this platform will impact greatly on our economy in job creation with decent wages and salaries.'

They were determined to doing things differently to turn the economy around and make things better for the people.

The Vice President announced that in the next couple of months Ghana would be hosting an international conference to deliberate on digital road map to addressing the nation's technological challenges.

Mr George S. Quaye, co-founder of the Coasters Company Limited, highlighted the need for companies to constantly innovate to remain in business.

It could not be business as usual as the national economy - the public sector and administration of services, were rapidly getting digitized.