The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation (MoCD), Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful (MP) has stated that Ghana, over the years has been a strategic partner with a substantial number of its professionals and businesses in Canada keenly contributing to developing both economies.
She said that Canadian exports to Ghana in the last 25 years have increased at an annualized rate of 8.97%[1], from $23.8M in 1995 to $372M currently.
The Minister made these revelations at just ended Ghana – Canada Investment Summit 2022 under the theme: *“Charting a Path Through Post Covid-19 Uncertainties* which was held from 15th to 17th September 2022 in Canada with the objective of discovering new investment opportunities for partnership and to deepening the long-standing bilateral relations for mutual benefit in the post-pandemic era.
She maintained that, Covid-19 has undoubtedly had a universal impact and that no single country was spared its devastation since global supply chains were disrupted and national borders were shut down resulting in city lockdowns to enable governments to control the spread of the virus.
Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful indicated that though the pandemic was very dire, it also ignited innovation and the use of technology to meet essential needs in critical sectors of the global economy, adding that, countries and citizens resorted to technology for survival and continuity of operations.
She however pointed out that, prior to the outbreak, in 2017, “we began implementing digitalisation policies and platforms aimed at digitalising public sector agencies, reducing inefficiencies and corruption, and increasing revenue collection. These included the Paperless Port System (PPS), Ghana Post GPS digital address system and the issuance of the digital national identification card, mobile money interoperability, e-procurement portal, and e-justice system, among others”.
According to her, Smart workplace solutions were launched across departments, and non-department-specific functions, such as payroll, were digitised for over 300 agencies so as to enhance efficiency and productivity.
Speaking on pragmatic measures taken by the government to mitigate the impact of the lockdown particularly as restrictions on movement were in place and internet usage had sharply increased, she mentioned that the National Communications Authority (NCA), which is under MoCD, had assigned spectrum to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to support COVID-19 relief efforts and to help improve the quality of experience of the users.
This was to cater for increased data traffic and online activity including learning, meetings, work-from-home as well as religious and social events.
She added that the Ministry also directed the NCA to permit MNOs with existing 2G Licenses to deploy Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems (UMTS), which is a 3G technology, in unserved and underserved communities across the country at no additional fee.
According to her in spite of the imposed Covid restrictions and school shutdowns, efforts were made by her Ministry’s engagement with telecommunications and in respect of that, school and learning portals were zero-rated.
She explained that the Ghana Learning TV and radio were empowered to provide virtual learning space for basic schools; the Learning Management System for tertiary institutions.
She added that the iCampus also provided offline access to video lessons and subsequently, notes and virtual laboratories were part of several other initiatives introduced for the education sector to lessen the impact of Covid.
The Hon. Minister also said similar interventions were made for the health sector such as the Medical Drone System which is an automated on-demand delivery service for medical supplies with aim of making health delivery accessible to all.
She said the government again, launched a COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalization of Enterprise Support initiative dubbed the Ghana Cares (Obaatan Pa) Programme as part of proactive intervention for post-COVID and it was specially designed to help stabilize, revitalize and transform Ghana's economy to create jobs and prosperity for Ghanaians over a three-year period.
“This will focus on supporting commercial farming and attracting educated youth into agriculture, building Ghana's light manufacturing sector, developing engineering/machine tools and ICT/digital economy, developing Ghana's housing and construction industry, and reviewing and optimizing the implementation of Government flagships and key programs among others. This specialized program by the Government will move Ghana into the industrialization, Agriculture, and Manufacturing phase to help revamp the economy, create jobs, and alleviate poverty” Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful stated.
Touching on investment opportunities, she said that "The Recent developments in Ghana’s economic landscape provide inspiration for investors and cooperation. I recently launched the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, (AfCFTA) Hub to promote, enhance and advance digital trading, electronic commerce, marketplace and general services in Ghana. AfCFTA Hub will make it easier for Technology Startups, Small Medium enterprises (SMEs), and other producers of goods and services, including ICT services to find markets across Africa. It’s designed to be a one-stop shop for regulators, financial institutions and payment services providers, SMEs, logistics services providers to do business from Ghana to the rest of the continent and beyond”
She noted that Ghana was currently focused on developing ICT with the youth as the pivot given the fact the country has, over the years, trained several young professionals with marketable skills in ICT.
She also outlined some specific investment opportunities including but not limited to: Partnership with the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT in the areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and other emerging technologies for capacity building for the knowledge economy.
Other areas for investment she mentioned also include: Joint ventures with Ghanaian FinTech companies to serve largely underdeveloped sector on the continent, Business process outsourcing, Supply of high-tech telecommunications equipment, Technology Parks, mini tech hubs, Back-office operations (especially for financial institutions), Investment in key digital governance infrastructure, Investments in the last mile connectivity to improve access and drive down cost, Transaction processing and Investment in Manufacturing, assembling, and supply of computers and accessories.
She reiterated that "Ghana’s investment climate is favorable, and provides for an enabling environment that is suitable for investment in ICT, especially with several companies around the world rushing in to set up their businesses in Ghana”
Story by: Thinknewsroom