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Ghana’s largest gathering of digital innovation actors, GDIW returns
A week to showcase the Nation’s growing digital ecosystem is coming this October, as a way of building on the successes of last year’s event.
The Ghana Digital Innovation Week (GDIW) 2022 is scheduled for 26 -28 October 2022 at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre, with other satellite events happening across the country.
This year’s three-day event will connect digital and creative minds, corporate and grassroots, startups, intermediary organisations and policymakers.
GDIW 2022 offers a 360 Digital, Tech and Entrepreneurial stakeholder engagement, networking and a platform for businesses to make themselves known.
It is a nationwide set of events showcasing and celebrating milestones in Ghana’s Digital Innovation Ecosystem. GDIW provides a platform for various actors to learn, share ideas and create connections to enhance the progress of the landscape.
The week is co-created and co-owned by actors from the private sector, academia, policymakers, Development Partners, and Civil Society Organisations and supported by The Digital Transformation Centre, an initiative by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
The intention behind it is to foster the growth of technology and innovation that have been growing rapidly in Ghana. Workshops, competitions, and company visits are some of the activities during the event.
In the course of the week, there will be more than 30 sessions at several locations across the country. There will be dozens of presentations and displays from digital influencers and key players in the innovation ecosystem. With numerous event options, there’s something for everyone!
GDIW 2022 comprises segmented thematic setups tailored to various ecosystem sectors. Building on last year’s success of over 4,000 attendees and international participation from Rwanda, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Germany, Israel, Ireland, USA, UK, Switzerland and South Korea, this year will again see many high-level policy players, digital and tech personalities and enthusiasts.
The event will be streamed live on the Hopin Conferencing platform and will be organised inother regions. The nationwide participation of GDIW will enable further discourse in improving digital literacy, especially among the youth in rural areas.
President John Dramani Mahama has visited the Akosombo Dam to assess the impact of a fire incident at a substation operated by the Ghana Grid Company.
The fire is reported to have caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts from the national power grid, affecting electricity supply in parts of the country.
During the visit, he inspected ongoing restoration works and received briefings from engineers on efforts to restore power. He commended them for what he described as a swift and professional response to the situation.
According to him, the government remains committed to restoring stable electricity supply as quickly as possible.
He added that steps are also being taken to strengthen the resilience of Ghana’s energy infrastructure to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Ghana Grid Company has not yet provided a detailed timeline for full restoration, but work is ongoing to bring affected systems back on stream.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, says he and his deputy have publicly filed their annual tax returns to demonstrate leadership and encourage compliance among citizens.
In a facebook post, he explained that the move was meant to show that public officials must lead by example when it comes to fulfilling civic duties.
“Leadership must be demonstrated, not declared,” he said.
He commended Ghanaian taxpayers for their continued contribution to national development, noting that tax compliance plays a key role in sustaining government activities.
According to him, paying taxes is both a legal and moral responsibility. He stressed that all citizens, including public officials, professionals, and businesses, are equal before the law and must meet their tax obligations.
He added that tax revenue is essential for funding key sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and security.
The minister praised the Ghana Revenue Authority for its work, especially during the ongoing Tax and Good Governance Month in April. He said the initiative helps to educate the public and promote voluntary compliance.
He urged the authority to intensify public education and continue reforms aimed at simplifying tax processes, reducing compliance costs, and improving transparency.
He further encouraged individuals and businesses that are yet to file their returns to do so promptly, adding that support systems and digital platforms are available to assist them.
He said building a strong tax culture would strengthen the country’s economy, improve accountability, and promote fairness in society.
By: Jacob Aggrey
