The Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has announced that the digital initiatives undertaken by the government is beginning to yield results.
Dr. Bawumia disclosed that some state institutions that were migrated to digital platforms are recording improvements in revenue collection.
The Ports, Lands Commission, Ministry of Tourism and the Passport Office are a few state agencies that have migrated to digital platforms to enhance efficiency.
Speaking at the Ghana Digital Roadmap Conference, Dr. Bawumia said the ultimate goal of government is to remove unnecessary procedures that allow stealing in public service.
“When we said that you cannot pay for services with cash. You should pay electronically. What we have found out is that government collection went up by four folds. Four times in one ministry. Just the Ministry of Tourism, so where was the money going,” he asked.
Dr. Bawumia pointed out that government’s short term goal is to leverage on technology and digitization in the public sector to improve administrative systems and governance.
“In well-functioning societies citizens do not to pay for something such as passports, driving license as well as access to water and electricity”.
“We cannot build a fair and equitable society that runs on the engines of bribes, Goro Boys and land guards,” he added.
Dr. Bawumia maintained that with digitization, government will be introducing new, and more efficient ways of doing business to help attract investors.
Reforms
Touching on some reforms in the future, Dr. Bawumia mentioned that the instant issuance of biometric ID cards will serve as the bedrock for all digital initiatives such as tax collection and business registration.
“This is the first time we have biometric issuance of national ID cards in the world. We have implemented the digital address system, digital drivers’ license and digital registration, mobile money interoperability which is a major step to financial inclusion and cashless payment for public services,” he said.
Outlining more projects being done by government, Dr. Bawumia stated that critical institutions such as the Ministry of Health will soon coordinate all health records on a single platform to enable doctors and health officers access it anywhere in the country.
“We are also beginning the process of digitizing the land registration process, passport applications are now online, the Health Ministry has also began the process of digitizing our health records, renewal of NHIS via mobile phones which has resulted in average renewal by 70,000 renewals in a week since its launch. We are digitizing the registration forms for businesses, the e-justice process that allows automated service of the court processes with speed and ease, introduction of paperless system at ports, e-procurement and many other initiative”
credit citinews