Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has called on relevant stakeholders within the digital sector to engage in an inclusive and participatory process in crafting Ghana’s digital future.
According to him, it is imperative for the country to have a united front as it is the primary path Ghana can engender to obtain a bustling local digital economy.
Speaking at the start of the Ghana Digital Innovation Week, held today, November 22, 2022, Dr Bawumia revealed that the event will serve as a platform to discuss and define a “common national vision” that drives digital innovation and generates wide interest. He explained that it will help with prompt “concrete actions” in areas of policy, legislative regulatory spaces and needed infrastructure.
“It is through an open, inclusive and participatory process where the voices of all can be heard in crafting Ghana’s digital future and unleash the true potential that innovation holds”.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
The Vice President, addressing the gathering urged them to capitalize on the Ghana Digital Innovation Week to “highlight our nation’s achievements in the digital innovation ecosystem and lead the conversation on how best Ghana can position itself to drive its development agenda”.
In a bid to achieve transformation in the economy via digitalization, Dr Bawumia expressed government’s commitment in building formidable institutions and systems in the country. He noted that without these things, the country will be “stuck in a vicious cycle of rhetoric and underdevelopment”.
“To build our post- pandemic economy, there is an urgent need of investing in innovative technology to leapfrog the obstacles to inclusive development. There is perhaps no more important development revolution facing us now than the fast-approaching digitalisation and leveraging of technology to develop our country”.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
Israel to collaborate with Ghana to achieve digital agenda
On her part, the current Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Shlomit Sufa, expressed Israel’s commitment to collaborate and help achieve Ghana’s innovation agenda. She revealed that quite a number of support and work have already begun between the two countries.
“The state of Israel is ready to join all other relevant stakeholders in implementing this agenda. We would like to join in configuring the innovation paradigm of Ghana to make it the go-to market and ecosystem in Sub-Saharan Africa to address some of Africa’s digital economy drawbacks”.
Shlomit Sufa
Shlomit Sufa underscored the need to build a country where digital innovation becomes the norm and main strength of approaching critical economic and social initiatives. In a similar vein, she intimated that innovation will ensure interventions that impacts people’s lives and “assures an enabling environment” for businesses to thrive.
In declaring her country’s stance on the matter, the Israeli ambassador to Ghana noted that Israel stands in a position to offer assistance as it has gone through the rope and challenges and emerged stronger in matters of innovation and digitalization.
“The state of Israel prides itself as a start-up nation driven by high-tech innovation. We have a country that has emerged from the desert sands without natural resources”.
Shlomit Sufa
The Ghana Digital Innovation Week seeks to celebrate the accomplishments of Ghana’s digital innovation ecosystem and build momentum towards a shared vision for its future development and scheduled to end on Friday, November 26.
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