The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that digitizing a nation comes with less political benefit contrary to the claims by their political archrival the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
During a press conference ostensibly to response to critics and their political opponents, the Spokesperson to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr. Gideon Boako disclosed that the digitalization drive being embarked upon by his boss is to create jobs, empower the youth and give room for a modernized way of trading among others.
“I dare say that digitalization is making it possible for many jobs to be created in both the private and public sectors. It has taken political will on the part of the government to put these new systems in place. The status quo benefits the few to the detriment of the many. Furthermore, there is little immediate political benefit from implementing these innovations.
“There are many people today who have turned their home kitchens into restaurants yet no one visits them physically to eat. They advertise using digital technology, receive orders using digital technology, receive payments using digital technology, and move their incomes to bank accounts using digital technology. This is how digitization is creating jobs,” he noted.
The Vice President in delivering a statement on the theme “TRANSFORMING AN ECONOMY THROUGH DIGITALIZATION- THE GHANA STORY” on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, at the Ashesi University, Berekuso in the Eastern Region disclosed a number of benefits in using the Ghana Card.
Among them are Ghanaians abroad to travel back home with Ghana, newborns to receive Ghana number and Ghana set to become the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to have a national scale E-Pharmacy.
However, a group calling itself Coalition of National Youth Organizers has also described Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s speech on digitalization of the economy as a launch of his presidential bid and an attempt to market himself to Ghanaians.
The group also called on the Vice President to explain to Ghanaians how the existing digital platforms have benefited the country in terms of revenue.
In another breath, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, has claimed that the whole National Identification Card also known as GhanaCard initiative is meant to enrich a private business.
Reacting to Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia’s address on Digitalization, Mr Adongo told Morning Starr host Francis Abban that the promotion by the Vice President is more of a business decision than national interest.
“The Ghana card travel document is a business decision. Using the Ghana Card as a passport is not for Ghana. A private business owner is benefiting. Whenever a Ghanaian uses the Ghana card, the private business owner is paid an amount of money.
“The biometric feature on the Ghana Card is owned by a private business entity. The data on the card is also owned by the same,” he reiterated.