Bawumia speaks: NPP Flagbearer tackles Mahama over 24-hour economy

NPP Flagbearer for the upcoming December elections, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has thrown subtle jabs at his opposite number in the NDC, John Mahama, over the latter’s proposed 24-hour economy programme.

At different points in his delivery to the nation on his own policy agenda, Dr. Bawumia argued how various digitalization initiatives can aid the citizenry in providing and receiving important services around the clock.

He explained how mobile money interoperability has enabled mobile subscribers to make and receive payments across different platforms around the world without any time limitations.

“MMI has made it possible to transfer money seamlessly across different mobile money providers and between bank accounts and mobile wallets. Today, because of mobile money interoperability (MMI), you can transfer money from a customer of one mobile money service provider to a customer of a different mobile money service provider and also make payments from your mobile money account into any bank account and you can receive payments from any bank account into your mobile money account. This can be done 24 hours a day!”

Dr. Bawumia also revealed how digitalization has impacted positively on electronic commerce, making Ghana the 6th-ranked active e-commerce country.

“The digital payments infrastructure is boosting e-commerce in Ghana. Businesses are booming over Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Many people who cannot afford to rent or build shops are able to do business on the internet at little cost with deliveries helped by digital address and payments using mobile money interoperability. This can be done 24 hours a day! Ghana is currently ranked number 6 in Africa in terms of e-commerce after Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia and Morocco according to UNCTAD.”

The Vice President further mentioned passport acquisition, motor insurance validations, applications for scholarships at the Schorlaship Secretariat, government services (Ghana.gov), utility bill payments, and tax filing as aspects of the economy where the 24-hour system is being enabled through digitization.

But, according to Mr. Mahama, his proposed 24-hour economy programme, which he considers a game changer, will significantly address unemployment challenges while providing incentives to businesses.