Audio By Carbonatix
Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has asked the government to use broadband infrastructure and its availability across the country as a basis to measure its successes in the digital space and not the number of mobile phones citizens have.
Speaking on the Super Morning Show, on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, ahead of the 2022 budget reading, Mr Iddrisu stated that so far as internet access remains a challenge in the country, government has little to boast about when it comes to its digitisation agenda.
"When the Vice President was touting his success in the ICT sector, I was expecting him to talk about broadband connectivity in the country and where we are with internet bandwidth. That is what we should use to measure IT success not the number of mobile phones we have," he said.
He indicated that at the time he was leaving office as Communications Minister, the country had already exceeded 100% mobile telephone penetration, hence, that can no longer be used as a basis to measure success in the digital space but rather, "access to bandwidth, broadband infrastructure, and its availability across the country, and more importantly, is usage in mainstreaming ICT in all aspects of our national life."
"When you talk about innovation, I expected that Ghana should live forward," he said.
The Vice President has been touting the achievements of the government in the digital space. His recent move regarding this was an interactive session with students of the Asheshi University.
Speaking at the lecture which was held on November 2, 2021, on the theme "Using digitisation to transform an economy - the Ghana story," Dr Bawumia explained government’s vision and the measures undertaken so far with regards to the digitisation agenda.
He further addressed the impact of digitalization on the general Ghanaian economy and service delivery, both by government and the private sector; a number of them including babies receiving National ID, Ghana Card becoming e-passport by next year, the introduction of digital currency, e-cedi among others.
These notwithstanding, Mr Iddrisu believes the digitisation drive is incomplete if the country cannot boast of seamless internet connectivity.
He cited for instance that "in Washington or New York just walking less than 10 yards to 100 meters, you're likely to have a signal strength of Verizon or At&t with you switching automatically to choose any of that network. You must be measuring your IT success using that as a basis [but] Ghana hasn't achieved that yet. We projected this from 2013 to 2016. That has not been done," he said.
Latest Stories
-
From fear to empowerment: Dzifa Gunu’s mission to transform Ghana’s digital future
3 minutes -
Wontumi Farms, directors to face prosecution over GH₵24m alleged EXIM Bank loan fraud
9 minutes -
PAG demands answers on EOCO’s record GH¢337m recoveries
11 minutes -
AG: Gov’t will use surcharge and disallowance to recover mismanaged public funds
14 minutes -
Sarkodie recounts terrible ‘wee biscuit’ experience during US show
16 minutes -
1D1F: The policy that broke Ghana’s industrial summit
17 minutes -
GT Music Concert lights up Accra as Ghana and Nigeria’s stars share one stage
24 minutes -
Bawumia appeals to NPP delegates: ‘Vote for me on competence, track record and vision’
47 minutes -
NDC supported establishment of Office of the Special Prosecutor – Samuel Jinapor
51 minutes -
High Court bars investigative journalist from publishing on private individual, imposes GH¢10,000 cost
2 hours -
‘Inconsistent Vinicius Jnr not on Neymar’s level’ – ex Botafogo manager
2 hours -
T-bills: Government records 47% oversubscription; interest rates fall
2 hours -
OSP deserves a second chance; it must decentralise its operations
2 hours -
Dafeamekpor says OSP is “guzzling money”
2 hours -
Stabilising the cedi should not come at the expense of Ghanaian workers
3 hours
