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Title: “24hour Economy: Mahama has just “copied” one of the byproducts of Dr. Bawumia’s Digital Transformation agenda”
Upon reflection on the concept of the 24-hour economy, I find myself questioning the NDC’s touted policy, wondering if it truly brings something groundbreaking to the table. In my observation, the digital transformation currently underway in Ghana plays a pivotal role in propelling us towards a round-the-clock economic model.
Take, for instance, the Ghana Revenue Authority’s move towards online tax filing. This initiative not only enhances efficiency but ensures that our nation continues to generate revenue even after the traditional working hours have concluded. It’s a testament to our ability to adapt and thrive in the digital age.
The ECG PowerApp is another fascinating example. It enables the Electricity Company of Ghana to sell electricity beyond 5 pm, with essential services such as customer care and engineering support working tirelessly into the night to address client challenges promptly. I’ve personally utilized these services during the late hours, experiencing firsthand the efficiency brought about by digitalization.
The Ghana Water App is yet another testament to the power of technology in driving a 24-hour economy. It consistently generates revenue for the Ghana Water Company, showcasing the potential for essential services to operate seamlessly around the clock.
Essential service staff, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Fire Service, and Prisons, health services, etc, have long embraced 24-hour job shifts, ensuring the continuous provision of critical services to the public.
Our industrial sector is thriving with many factories operating day and night shifts, contributing significantly to the 24-hour model. Likewise, certain fueling stations, exemplified by Star Oil, have adopted 24-hour shifts, depending on the safety of their surroundings.
Banks, too, have embraced the digital age. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s leadership in spearheading mobile money interoperability has enabled 24/7 deposits and withdrawals, revolutionizing the accessibility of banking services beyond traditional hours.
So, as I ponder these advancements, a critical questions arises:
“What does the NDC, under the leadership of Mahama, plan to do differently than what is already in motion, in order to increase the number of industries that are running 24 hour operations? “
The NDC and Ex President John Mahama’s challenge always lies with formulating a succinctly thought through policy to drive this nation Ghana into our desired future.
In conclusion, 24 hour economy is one of the benefits of Dr. Bawumia’s digital transformation agenda. It does not come about by reducing electricity tariffs for factories or government giving them tax incentives to factories that work in the night. Factories will increase their production operations automatically to include the nights when their sales or demand increases.
Stephen Forson
(Dep. Director of IT, NPP HQ)
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NHIA set to boost its cybersecurity and IT Infrastructure
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), in partnership with a leading private cybersecurity solutions provider in Ghana, CyberHawk Limited, is advancing the Authority’s digital infrastructure to ensure seamless operations.
This is to safeguard the Authority’s digital technologies and maintain the trust of active members of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
In this context, the NHIA Management Information System (MIS) Directorate in the Head Office, on February 11, 2024, launched a three-day brainstorming session on the organization’s cybersecurity enhancement agenda.
The MIS Directorate Ag. Director, Mr. Daniel Blankson explained that the collaborative meeting aimed to scrutinize the NHIA’s Information Technology architecture, identifying potential risks and gapsto enhance its cybersecurity posture.
“By leveraging CyberHawk Limited’s expertise, the NHIA seeks to fortify its defenses against cyber threats, protecting sensitive information and maintaining the trust of its members.”
Mr. Blankson applauded the synergy between the two organizations and underscored the Authority’s commitment to embracing cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions to drive its mission forward.
The Head of Information Security and Standards Unit, in the MIS Directorate, Mr. Ebenezer Hooper, highlighted the Authority’s significant milestone on the digital transformation journey.
According to him, the NHIA is actively engaged in fully adopting and implementing modern digital systems to improve its operations.
He said, “The three-day brainstorming meeting will culminate in the development of a robust IT infrastructure, as well as strategic plans to translate security implementations into tangible IT cost savings for the organization.”
“There is the need to form a steering committee or IT advisory committee, operated under the Board, so that they can pay more attention in protecting the huge IT investment while ensuring cyber security-related policies are well protected,” he added.
The Project Manager of CyberHawk Limited, Mr. Chetan Narayana Murthy, lauded the collaboration and anticipated that it would empower the NHIA to implement comprehensive cybersecurity measures.
According to him, “This is a huge project that will greatly benefit the NHIA by implementing robust cybersecurity measures, safeguarding their systems, and ultimately protecting the sensitive information of NHIA members and healthcare providers.”
A Senior Manager of IT infrastructure, Mr. David Asare Addo, and his colleague, a Senior Manager of Applications, Mr. Enock Afanyi, with the MIS Directorate, gave an overview of the NHIA’s current technological landscape.
Present at the meeting were representatives from the Claims, Membership and Regional Operations (MRO), Research, Policy, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RPME), Corporate Affairs, the Audit, Administration, and Human Resource Directorates.
Story By : Vivian Arthur
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Swedru All Blacks back to winning ways, Roshan humble King Faisal
Sekondi Rospak FC made it eight wins in eight successive home games after three second-half goals from John Amoah, Joseph Ntow and Stephen Anthony Kofi. John Amoah opened the scoring in the 55th minute after a barren first half. Joseph Ntow added to the tally in the 56th minute before Stephen Anthony Kofi rounded things up in the 74th minute to give Rospak a 3-0 win over former Premier League side King Faisal.
Elsewhere at Swedru – leaders Swedru All Blacks humbled PAC Academy in an emphatic 2-0 win. Zayat Bubakari scored first for Swedru All Blacks in the 27th minute before Rudolf Junior Nana Kwasi Mensah made it 2-0 in the 34th minute. Swedru All Blacks are top of the table with 36 points – 4 points ahead of second placed Rospak FC.
Meanwhile, Former Premier League side Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs recorded their fourth successive home victory after beaten New Edubiase United 2-1 at the Robert Mensah Park. Enoch Odoom struck first for Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs in the 19th minute but Steven Asante equalized for New Edubiase United before halftime. After the interval, Godfred Eshun scored from distance in the 65th minute to help Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs secure all the points.
Here are the results in Zone Two
