Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has emphasized the pivotal role of digitalization in addressing Ghana's developmental challenges.
Speaking at the Bank of Ghana's (BoG) eCedi Hackathon Awards, Dr. Bawumia highlighted the government's commitment to digital initiatives over the past seven years, aiming for efficiency and productivity.
The eCedi Hackathon Awards, recognizing innovation in Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) solutions, gathered experts in technology and finance to explore the possibilities of CBDC. Dr. Bawumia praised the event for harnessing technology's power to address developmental issues through cooperative competition and tapping into the imaginative capabilities of local talents.
“I am excited at the prospects of harnessing the power of technology to address the country's developmental problems through cooperative competition by tapping the imaginative capabilities of solution developers, innovators, user experience designers, consumer insights experts, and financial service providers,” said Vice President Bawumia.
The Vice President celebrated the event as more than just an awards ceremony, viewing it as a testament to the nation's capacity to co-create innovative solutions that respond to diverse needs, leveraging digital technology tools.
He acknowledged significant government investments in national infrastructure, including the National Identification and Digital Address Systems, e-government services, and digital financial service platforms, creating a foundation for economic development.
Dr. Bawumia pointed out the government's leadership in digitalization, citing the flagship Ghana.gov platform that allows citizens to access various government services online.
The digitalization initiatives have brought improvements to sectors like health insurance renewals and licensing applications, enhancing efficiency and transparency.
As part of the eCedi Hackathon Awards, Forward Titans emerged as the overall winner, receiving GH₵500,000. Nokofio secured second place with GH₵300,000, and Pay Code came third, receiving a prize of GH₵200,000. The Vice President emphasized the government's commitment to fostering the adoption of digital technology across sectors for inclusive economic development.