USE SUBSIDIARY ORGANIZATIONS TO SENSITIZE THE POPULACE ON DIGITIZING THE ECONOMY
A developing country like Ghana, has decided to benefit from digitalization in all aspects of the economy. In its quest to achieve this, the William Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia administration has employed digitalization in the areas of e-governance, e-passport, Interoperability of the Financial Sector, Authentication of Vehicle Insurance, Health Insurance, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, the purchase of Electricity, the GhanaPost GPS, Ghana Ports and Habour to mention a few.
However, the effectiveness and efficiency of this system is not much appreciated by the populace due to the little or better still lack of adequate knowledge about the existence of such systems.
In my view, this is hindering the benefits associated with digitalization of an economy such as curbing corruption, government controlled pricing, an all-inclusive economy, a better health scheme and strengthening the economic structures. Again, in developing economies, digitalizing the systems helps to increase productivity and has positive output on growth.
The policymakers at this point must work in concert with government subsidiary organizations and other industries in propagating information on the innovative face given by the government to the economy through digitalization. As a result, the following entities must be engaged to disseminate information to the populace on digitalization of the economy as part of their core mandate.
National Service Secretariat
Sensitizing Ghanaians on innovative ideas can be undertaken by National Service Personnel as they are better inclined to Information Technology to explain to lowest level. Again digitalization is aimed at national development and is in tandem with the mission of the National Service Secretariat. It is therefore important that if the government wants the ideas to be embraced this subsidiary organization should be employed.
Information Service Department
This is a government organization that has not been very active in the propagation of government policies. Their core mission is defeated as can be scanned on their website” Creation of awareness of government policies, programmes and activities, promoting Ghana’s international marketing agenda, providing public relations support to other Ministries, Departments and Agencies and submitting feedback reports from the public”. In view of this, the government must resource and put them into much use on digitalizing the economic.
Telecommunication Companies (TELCOS)
This is one area the government is under-utilizing. Their platform can be used to reach a wider spectrum of the Ghanaian economy in a second. The sound bite enjoyed during call connection can now be replaced with messages of propagation on the innovative policies from the government.
National Disaster Management Organization
This is a subsidiary organization mandated to provide assistance, educate and provide relief to Ghanaians who are affected by disaster. Aside this, it is enshrined in their general objective bullet nine and ten, to provide good conditions and scheme of service to raise morale, performance and productivity and raise human capacity and development of staff. This is a clear indication that they have additional responsibility to help when considering dissemination of information on digitalizing the economy.
As a matter of urgency, as the state has directed its attention to digitalization, lack of awareness will not make the efforts by the government to be fruitful in achieving the intended objectives.
NATION BUILDERS CORPS (NABCO)
This is one of the flagship programmes HE. William Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia used in engaging thousands of Ghanaian youth. The programme has Digitize Ghana as one of its modules. It has now become necessary to engage this block, to also contribute in propagating the Digitizing Economy agenda.
By:
JOHN KWAO DAWSON
SUNYANI TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
0249623114
