The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2024 elections, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has highlighted his commitment to digital transformation in Ghana, a vision he first set forth 14 years ago.
In his address to stakeholders during his constituency-focused tour visit, Dr. Bawumia highlighted how his digitalization agenda has positioned Ghana as a leader in digital identity across Africa and saved the nation millions of Ghana cedis by addressing inefficiencies and corruption.
Dr. Bawumia recounted that while studying at Oxford University 14 years ago, he authored a book that emphasized the urgent need for Africa, and Ghana in particular, to embrace the digital age. His early advocacy for digitalization has become a cornerstone of his administration’s efforts to modernize Ghana.
Fourteen years ago, before we came into government, I wrote a book while at Oxford University. I said that Africa and Ghana need to move into the digital age because that is where the world is going. If we don’t take time, we are going to be left behind.
Since assuming office, Dr. Bawumia has made digital transformation a core pillar of his development strategy. One of his flagship achievements is the introduction of the Ghana Card, a digital identity system that has already issued 18 million cards, covering 85% of the adult population.
“In Africa, we are leading in the issuance of digital identity. Even the USA and the UK do not have digital identity systems like ours,”
Dr. Bawumia also emphasized that the Ghana Card is more than just an ID; it is the “entry ticket into the digital world” and a critical tool for fighting corruption and ensuring accountability. He explained how the government used the Ghana Card to eliminate ghost workers and pensioners from government payrolls, resulting in significant financial savings.
We had a problem with ghost workers on the payroll. By using the Ghana Card, which requires fingerprints, we quickly identified and removed these ghost workers from the system.Because one thing ghosts don’t have is fingerprints.
We discovered 29,000 ghost pensioners at SSNIT, saving 400 million Ghana cedis
With these achievements, Dr. Bawumia remains a prominent figure in the push for digital transformation, illustrating his vision for a modern Ghana equipped to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. His leadership continues to demonstrate the potential of digital innovation to drive national progress and deliver real benefits to the citizens.
