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Digital identity and address systems made it possible for Ghana’s digitalisation to take off – Bawumia
Vice President and flagbearer of the NPP. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has underscored the significance of the digital identity and address systems to modern economies and nations.
Speaking during his campaign tour of Dome Kwabenya Constituency in Accra on Thursday, Dr. Bawumia said developed economies have gone ahead leaving African countries behind, because their economies went digital, adding that, for African countries to catch up, there is the need for African economies to also go digital.
Dr. Bawumia, who has passionately spearheaded Ghana’s remarkable digitalisation drive, said he proposed that African economies should go digital in order to achieve economic transformation, in a book he wrote 14 years ago.
“I wrote a book in 2010 – ‘Monetary Policy and Financial Sector Reforms in Africa” and I made the point that Africa needs to go digital. That if we don’t go digital, we are going to be left behind because the digital revolution is the key for African economic development,” Dr. Bawumia told a diverse audience.
Having written the book six years before he became Vice President, Dr. Bawumia said once he got the opportunity to serve as Vice President, he knew exactly where his focus should be, with the blessings of President Akufo-Addo.
“When I came into office, I focused on one area which is digitalisation of the economy,” he said.
According to him, “I focused on it for a good reason because in the modern economy digitalisation is key to solving a lot of problems not only in Ghana but across Africa.”
Dr. Bawumia, however, added that for Ghana’s digitalisation to successfully take off, a solid foundation needed to be built, because without those foundations, digitalising the economy could not have been achieved, hence his focus on that.
“There are things you have to do first if you want to enter the digital world. First, your citizens must be digitally identified. That’s why we said let us issue the Ghana card and the Ghana Card has been issued,” he said.
According to him, “85% of adults in Ghana now have the Ghana card. We have issued 18 million Ghana cards and that makes Ghana the leading country in sub- Saharan African for digital identity. Today, even children who are born in Ghana, we are giving them digital identities just as it happens abroad.”
The Vice President added that “We give them an identity number at birth. We have linked that Ghana card with the birth and death registry so that integration of those systems is allowing Ghana to do something that no other country in the world has been able to do.”
Another digital foundation Dr. Bawumia said he focused on, which he noted is essential to creating a digital economy, is digital address system.
“When we came into office, Ghana was not having an address system that was working throughout the country… But an address system is TV one of the most important elements for any modern economy,” Dr. Bawumia said.
“An address system is so important that today, if you go to the United States and you collapse their address system; just erase it, if you could, that economy will collapse because you can’t function. The businesses cannot function without an address system,” he stressed.
Dr. Bawumia stated that when he remained committed to building these structures for a strong and efficient digital economy for Ghana, many, who did not understand the linkage between digitalisation and economy, questioned what he was doing and also sought to mock him.
“When I started, many people could not understand how digitalisation related to the economy and so increasingly, they are now beginning to understand,” he concluded.
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Minister for Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor, has praised engineers and technical teams working to restore electricity after a fire at the Akosombo Substation disrupted power supply.
He said this after visiting the facility on Monday night to assess ongoing repair works following the incident, which affected the control room and caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts of power to the national grid.
During the visit, he interacted with engineers and technicians who have been working continuously under difficult conditions to restore operations.
He said he was impressed by their dedication, courage, and professionalism despite the challenges.
The minister commended the teams for their resilience and sacrifice, noting that their efforts reflect a strong sense of duty and commitment to national service.
He assured them of the government’s full support as they continue with the restoration work.
He also assured the public that authorities are doing everything possible to restore stable electricity supply as soon as possible.
By: Jacob Aggrey
