Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has proudly showcased the achievements of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government in the successful digitalization of Ghana's economy.

He emphasized that the Akufo-Addo government recognized technology and innovation as pivotal tools for the country's transformation, leading to the prioritization of digitalization as a central policy.

Dr Bawumia made these remarks while commending Estonia as one of the world's most digitally advanced nations during the opening ceremony of the 75th Annual New Year School and Conference (ANYSC) at the University of Ghana. He highlighted that the government's investments have positioned Ghana as the fastest-growing country in Africa in terms of digitalization.

“Governments since independence have by and large not focused on the underlying system that underpins economic activities. Our goal from the assumption of office was to quickly transform our economy by leveraging on technology innovations as a means to leapfrog the development process, overcome the basic problems and improve both economic and public sector governance.

“… we decided to do something different and this is why digitalisation has become a major area of focus of our government. Our strategy since 2017 has been to build a new system through digitalisation and therefore to build a data-based economy,” he said.

Dr Bawumia added that the investment the government has made in its digitalisation agenda, which he has been championing, has made Ghana “the faster digitalising economy in Africa.”

The Vice President emphasized that digitization would play a crucial role in ensuring that every Ghanaian is included in the progress of the country's development process.

On Tuesday, January 9, 2024, Dr Bawumia inaugurated the 2024 Annual New Year School and Conference (ANYSC) on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The event, themed "Nurturing Resilience: Adopting Technology and Embracing Humanism for Sustainable Development," is scheduled to conclude on Thursday, January 11, 2024.

Professor Katrin Niglas, the Vice-Rector for Research at Tallinn University, Estonia, delivered the keynote address at the opening of the school and conference at the Great Hall, UG.

Professor Niglas, in her address, emphasised how the embracement of technology by Estonia in every sector, including education, helped make the small European country one of the most developed countries in the world.

The ANYSC is an annual event that brings together academics, policymakers, business leaders, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to discuss critical issues affecting the African Continent and Ghana in particular.

This year’s theme focuses on the need to develop resilience, adapt to leverage technology and promote human values and dignity to propel the ended development and progress in Ghana and will be organized around the following sub-themes:

1. Nurturing resilience and leveraging on technology to achieve sustainable growth

2. Promoting education for sustainable development.

3. Towards the attainment of a digital economy: Global Perspectives.

4. New local government system, election 2024, security and peacebuilding.

The deliberations at the conference will be documented and presented to the appropriate authorities for policy interventions.