The Vice President of Ghana, Mahamudu Bawumia, has announced plans for the country’s next phase of digitization, aiming to implement blockchain technology across its governmental operations. This initiative seeks to establish Ghana as the inaugural blockchain-powered government in Africa.
Bawumia shared this vision during the 14th Regional Conference and Annual General Meeting of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa, which took place in Accra from May 6 – 11, 2024.
He indicates that Ghana will embrace blockchain, citing its potential to enhance transparency and empower the government in combating corruption effectively. According to Bawumia, the innovative and automated features of blockchain could enable Ghana, as well as Africa as a whole, to recoup billions of dollars lost to corruption, poor governance, mismanagement, and a lack of accountability.
Bawumia, who is the ruling party’s candidate for President on December 7 2024, also pointed out several of the other digitalization initiatives that have been spearheaded by the government under current President, Nana Akufo Addo.
One of the digitalization programmes is the introduction of a unique identity card known as the Ghana Card which integrates a public sector database. This is said to have enabled the Controller and Accountant General’s department to fish out 29,000 ghost pensioners saving the country GH¢480 million annually.
The Ghana Card also helped the government to identify 44,707 fraudulent entries on the National Service Scheme payroll, leading to savings amounting to GH¢356 million.
Mr Bawumia emphasized the importance of anti-corruption agencies throughout Africa investing comprehensively in initiatives such as digital forensics and blockchain technology. He stressed that these investments are crucial for enhancing the capability to track, trace, and disrupt corruption networks across the continent.
The remarks by Vice President Bawumia came barely a month following a meeting between the Vice President and Gluwa’s CEO, Tae Oh, where they discussed technological opportunities including development and adoption for Ghana’s CBDC.
🇬🇭CBDC | Blockchain Solutions Platform, Gluwa, Meets Vice President of Ghana as it Explores Providing Adoption Support for the #eCedi CBDC
The meeting follows other similar developments in Nigeria, where Gluwa recently began working with the Central Bank of Nigeria as an… pic.twitter.com/Mgt12W9N13
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) March 22, 2024
In addition to providing support for the development and adoption of its CBDC, Gluwa also introduced its latest technological solution, a satellite-based Internet Service Provider (ISP) designed to expand digital access across Africa.
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