Ghana’s digitization journey, contrary to popular misperception, did not commence overnight. John Dramani Mahama, the fourth President of Ghana adroitly steered this ship. The assertion that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia brought digitization to Ghana dismisses the foundational work that the Mahama-led administration accomplished. This article will critically examine the myriad projects that the Mahama administration initiated to navigate Ghana towards the digital future.
The landmark project under John Mahama’s administration was the establishment of the Accra Digital Centre, a pioneering feat on a mission to boost the country’s IT ecosystem. Launched in November 2016, this modern tech enclave aimed to create over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs and provide affordable office space for tech-related businesses. A project of such a monumental scale underscored John Mahama’s commitment towards digitization.
Yet, the scope of operations extended far beyond the Accra Digital Centre. The implementation of the National Data Centre – the first ever in Ghana’s history – was another groundbreaking project. Commissioned in April 2016 as part of the e-Government platform, it consisted of three data centers dispersed strategically across the country. It catapulted Ghana as a leader in West Africa in terms of data storage and management.
Moreover, the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), under Mahama’s stewardship, embarked on an extension project of over 700 km fibre optic cables intended to augment the broadband infrastructure. It assured the expansion of digital services and internet penetration to remote corners of the nation. This transnational ICT backbone further solidified Ghana’s position as a frontrunner in teledensity in Africa.
The digitization process achieved another milestone with the introduction of Mobile Money Payment Interoperability in 2014 under the Mahama administration. This advanced financial technology revolutionized transactions by rendering them digital, catering to financial inclusivity in Ghana.
The e-Government Interoperability Framework, a project launched to connect all public institutions digitally, demonstrated the scale of Mahama’s digital ambition. This framework acted as a conduit for integrating various digital payment services onto a single platform, thus facilitating seamless online transactions between citizens and government agencies.
Undoubtedly, these initiatives depict the visionary leadership of John Mahama, laying the foundation stone for the digitization journey in Ghana.
In juxtaposition to this, assertions from Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the current Vice President, that he introduced digitization to Ghana seem unfounded. While his contribution towards the acceleration of already established digital infrastructures cannot be overlooked, attributing the inception to him undermines the effort and vision of the Mahama-led administration.
Dr. Bawumia’s administration indeed pushed for the advancement of digital services like the Ghana Post GPS, Mobile Money interoperability, and the paperless port system. However, these enhancements were built upon the foundation that the Mahama-led administration had set. It is therefore essential to discern the difference between the initiation and the acceleration of digitization in Ghana.
The digitization journey of Ghana markedly began during the Mahama administration. They instituted numerous significant projects aimed at establishing Ghana as a digital hub in West Africa. While Dr. Bawumia has contributed to the digital advancement in the nation, the claim that he started the digitization journey seems to lack merit. It is crucial to credit the roots of Ghana’s digitization journey to its rightful pioneers – John Mahama and his administration, as their foresight enabled Ghana to embark on the path of digital transformation.
© Haruna Zinentah
Diengbaala House -Samatigu
Sankana – NDK
Email: visionharuna@gmail.com
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