Summary: Digitization achievements in Ghana according to Dr. Bawumia

The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Mahmoud Bawumia, announced some significant digitization achievements by the Government on Tuesday 02, November 2021, during his annual lecture dubbed ‘Bawumia speaks‘ at the Ashesi University Campus. 

The theme of the lecture, delivered to a group of students, diplomats, and government officials, was ‘Transforming an Economy through Digitization: The Ghana Story.’

According to him, the Akuffo-Addo led Government has made significant progress in the digitization sector since taking office in 2017.

“I want to focus my remarks on how we are transforming Ghana’s economy through digitization because it is important that we highlight the critical nature of digitizing the economy and how it underpins the reforms that the citizenry expects of a government,” he stated.

Here are some of the Digitization achievements by the Government, as stated by Dr. Bawumia

The ability to transact with Mobile Money Interoperability

Not talked about enough, I believe this is by far the most significant digitization achievement during this period. The ability for Mobile Money customers to send & receive money to all mobile money providers is now possible thanks to Mobile Money interoperability.

According to Dr. Bawumia, Mobile Money interoperability has solved one of the “biggest problems” facing the financial sector in the country. Thus Financial exclusions, thereby creating a vast environment for the Government & Telcos to generate revenue.

“Thanks to the Bank of Ghana and Ghana Interbank Payments and Settlement System (GhIPSS), the mobile money payments interoperability has made it possible to transfer money seamlessly across different mobile money providers and between bank accounts and mobile wallets,” he stated.

“It has also solved the major problem of the over 70% of people not having bank accounts. Today, because of mobile money interoperability (MMI), you can transfer money from a customer of one telco to a customer of a different telco and also make payments from your mobile money account into any bank account, and you can receive payments from any bank account into your mobile money account.”

He also commended Ghana for being the “first country in Africa and one of a few in the world” to implement this system.

“Ghana is the first country in Africa and one of the few in the world to achieve this type of interoperability between bank accounts and mobile wallets. I would like to note that even in the USA, the Federal Reserve Bank does not have interoperability in its Real-Time Payments Network. The American Bankers Association in a letter to the Fed in September 2021, called on the Fed to strive towards interoperability with the Real-Time Payment Network,” he stated.

GhanaPost Digital Address system Digitization

The Digital Addressing system according to Dr. Bawumia has helped the government use GPS to capture every square inch of land. In the process, aiding the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA) provide street names and house numbers for every street in Ghana. 

The Ghana Post GPS  has helped in providing unique addresses for some 7.5 million properties in Ghana.

“With the digital property address system: Every Ghanaian has a digital address. Can provide such an address for job applications, visa applications, application for passports, ” he stated.

“Currently Ghana Post is achieving 98% delivery rates as they can identify every location using the digital address navigation system. Now Ghana Post delivers for several e-commerce companies like Jumia and the majority of shipments sent to Ghana via Alibaba and Amazon are delivered through Ghana Post. Ghana Post provides banks with data such as customers’ GPS address.” 

Digitization in Public Service Delivery

According to Dr. Bawumia, Government since 2017 has used Digitization to fast track public service delivery which has also helped reduce corruption significantly in public services.

• Digitization of the ports: Good clearing at the ports has moved from the old manual pen and paper method to a computerized system which ensures a swift process of clearing goods.
• Motor Insurance Database: The introduction of the Motor insurance database by the National Insurance Commission (NIC) curb the menace of vehicles with fake motor insurance stickers plying our roads, thus endangering lives and property. The general public can also self-check the authenticity of their insurance policy by dialing a USSD code *920*57# and following the instructions.
• Digitization of the passport office: The process of applying for passports has now been digitized. Hence, eliminating bribes paid to “middlemen” from the passport application process. The average turnaround time for the acquisition of a passport has reduced significantly.
• The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA): With the digitization of the drivers’ licenses in 2019, the Authority experienced an increase in service by 109% in 2020.
• Scholarship Secretariat Applications: The frustration of traveling to Accra to take part in the scholarship application process has now been taken care of. Students can now apply and wait for the results of their applications in the comfort of their homes.
• Ghana.Gov Platform: The Ghana.Gov portal seeks to grant the entire citizenry access to all of the government services. You can File &Pay your Taxes, apply for Passports, apply for birth certificates, etc. You can also download the Ghana.Gov app on the Google play store.

Integration of National Databases using Ghana Card

Government is also in the process of integrating the National Database from the NIA according to Dr.Bawumia. The Ghana card will soon be linked to all the cards in the country.

“In this regard, we are integrating the National ID card database with other databases such as Passports, SSNIT, NHIS, Ghana Revenue Authority, Bank Accounts, DVLA, SIM cards, Mobile money accounts, Controller and Accountant Generals Department, Registrar Generals Department, Births and Deaths Registry and the Police CID, Ghana.Gov, etc. to create a centralized integrated database,” he stated.

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