In a significant move towards enhancing transparency and combating corruption, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia unveiled Ghana’s ambition to become Africa’s inaugural blockchain-powered government. Speaking at the 14th Regional Conference and Annual General Meeting of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa, Dr. Bawumia emphasized the pivotal role of blockchain technology in augmenting governance integrity.
The adoption of blockchain, he articulated, offers unparalleled capabilities in scrutinizing digital data alterations and meticulously tracking all transactions within governmental spheres. Dr. Bawumia underscored the transformative potential of blockchain in fostering transparency, thereby fortifying the government’s anti-corruption endeavors comprehensively.
The Vice President’s remarks were delivered during the aforementioned conference themed “Strengthening Institutions and Promoting Transparency: A Means of Fighting Corruption in Commonwealth Africa,” which convened representatives from 20 Commonwealth African nations to strategize on combating corruption and stimulating economic prosperity.
Highlighting Ghana’s strides in digitalization since 2017, Dr. Bawumia lauded the impactful initiatives yielding substantial national benefits. Notable among these initiatives is the ghana.gov portal, facilitating electronic payment for public services, which has amassed over GI-10201 billion in revenue since 2020. Moreover, the digitalization of passport acquisition processes has witnessed a surge in applications and revenues, with figures escalating from 347,000 to 752,000 applications and from GH¢12 million to GH¢94 million in revenue between 2018 and 2023, respectively.
Furthermore, the integration of public sector databases through the GhanaCard system has enabled the identification and removal of 29,000 ghost pensioners from the payroll, resulting in annual savings of GH¢480 million. Dr. Bawumia also highlighted the GhanaCard’s pivotal role in uncovering 44,707 ghost beneficiaries on the National Service Scheme payroll, leading to savings amounting to GH¢356 million.
Addressing anti-corruption agencies across Africa, Dr. Bawumia advocated for investments in digital forensics and advanced tools to enhance their capabilities in tracking, tracing, and disrupting corrupt networks. He emphasized the imperative for these agencies to establish Customized Security Operation Centers to bolster their efforts in combating corruption networks effectively.
Moreover, Dr. Bawumia articulated the potential of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), colloquially known as the e-Cedi, as a game-changing tool in Ghana’s anti-corruption arsenal. The introduction of the e-Cedi, he asserted, would facilitate seamless monitoring of financial transactions, thereby expediting the identification of suspicious activities and reinforcing Ghana’s anti-corruption initiatives.
In summary, Ghana’s pursuit of blockchain-driven governance underlines its commitment to leveraging innovative technologies to combat corruption and enhance governance transparency, setting a pioneering example for Africa and beyond.