Digitalisation debate in Ghana
Rapid digital transformation is reshaping our global economy, permeating virtually every sector and aspect of daily life, changing the way we learn, work, trade, socialise, and access public and private services and information (The World Bank Group, 2019).
Currently, the speech made by the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at the Ashesi University is being discussed.
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The question from the lecture is: “How prepared is the country for the Digital Economy?” Digital divide is a challenge, with some communities or villages having poor Internet connectivity.
This was what The World Bank Group, 2019 also indicated in their reportage that “…the digital economy also introduces new challenges and risks including a growing digital divide, risk of cyber attacks and fraud, threats to privacy and disruption to markets.
Access to the Internet remains out of reach for most people, too few citizens have digital IDs or transaction accounts …”
The set of people the digital economy will benefit are the youth.
Studies suggest that in the coming years, many low and middle skilled jobs will be replaced by automation, advanced manufacturing and 3D printing, robotics, autonomous transport and artificial intelligence (United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development, 2017).
Ghana is striving to transform the economy digitally.
According to the World Bank Group again, (2019), “As part of Ghana Beyond Aid, the government aims now to develop a digital strategy and an implementation plan to establish Ghana as the leader in ICT innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2023.
It aims to (i) foster the growth of the local IT sector beyond the boundaries of e-procurement, e-immigration, e-parliament, and e-judiciary.”
The introduction of the Ghana Card shows how Ghana is ready for digitalisation.
Digitalising our economy is the way to ensure development in Ghana.
Grace Tsotsoo Quaye, Ghana Institute of Journalism. E-mail: [email protected]