The New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has addressed criticism suggesting he is sidelining economic issues by focusing heavily on his digitalisation agenda.
Apparently responding to the claims by the opposition, especially the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its leader, John Dramani Mahama, Bawumia clarified that his emphasis on digital initiatives is in fact part of a broader economic strategy aimed at addressing Ghana’s financial challenges.
Bawumia has long championed digitalisation as a transformative tool for the economy, arguing that it can help tackle core economic issues.
He explained that digital solutions, such as the National Credit Scoring System launched recently, are vital to making economic opportunities more accessible to Ghanaians.
The credit scoring system, designed to assess individuals’ creditworthiness through digital data, is part of Bawumia’s plan to increase access to financial services and support economic inclusion.
At the launch of this credit scoring initiative, Bawumia stressed that digitalisation should not be seen as separate from economic policy but rather as an integrated approach to overcoming key economic obstacles.
According to him, modernising Ghana’s economy through digital tools addresses systemic challenges like limited access to credit, financial transparency, and inclusion, all of which are pivotal for sustainable growth.
In his remarks, Bawumia noted that digital transformation is not just about technology but about building a fair and efficient economic ecosystem for all Ghanaians.
By harnessing digital tools, he envisions an economy where transactions are faster, more reliable, and accessible to all citizens, helping to create a level playing field that supports growth across sectors.
He highlighted the implementation of mobile money interoperability as an example of how digitalisation has already positively impacted the economy.
This system allows seamless transfers across different mobile networks, expanding financial inclusion and creating more fluid financial interactions, particularly for those without traditional banking access.
Bawumia insisted that his digital agenda is about creating real economic benefits, citing improved access to credit and financial services as crucial steps toward a robust and inclusive economy.
By driving these initiatives, he aims to lay a foundation that strengthens Ghana’s economic framework and brings tangible improvements to the everyday lives of Ghanaians.
“When I was pushing for the implementation of these projects, many people said I had abandoned economics to pursue digitalisation. They did not understand that I was just using digitalisation to solve economic problems.”
“I remember when I made a statement in 2017 that with the implementation of mobile money interoperability, every Ghanaian will be able to have a bank account, when I said that, many people did not understand it. They even made jokes about it. They did not think it was possible. But today we have made it possible,” Dr Bawumia said.
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