According to him, he is determined to unlock Ghana’s potential by implementing initiatives that will empower the nation’s youth to thrive in the digital age.
The Vice President and Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, plans to build a Ghana where people leverage technology, data, and systems for inclusive economic growth.
“I want us to apply digital technology, STEM, robotics and artificial intelligence for the transformation of agriculture, healthcare, education, manufacturing, fintech and public service delivery. As part of this process, it is my goal to eliminate the digital divide by achieving close to 100% internet penetration,” according to him.
Dr Bawumia who made his plans for the youth known in an address on Sunday, November 3, 2024, stressed, “We have already made very significant progress in this direction by increasing internet penetration from 34% in 2016 to some 70% in 2023 (by more than double!!!). The task in the next four years is to move from 72% to over 90% as exists in the advanced countries. ! I want to make sure everyone has access to the internet at affordable costs. It is possible!”
He disclosed, “In collaboration with the private sector, we will train at least 1,000,000 youth in IT skills, including software developers to provide job opportunities worldwide.”
He emphasized, “I want to see Ghana build the digital talent we require for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This will mean providing digital and software skills to hundreds of thousands of youth. This along with other policies, will create jobs for the youth, including school dropouts.”
On TVET education, he stated that his government will support the establishment of a National Open University Ghana in collaboration with the private sector with a focus on ICT, TVET and STEM.
“To prepare our children for the fourth industrial revolution workplace I will enhance the positioning of the education system towards STEM, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and vocational skills to cope with the demands of the fourth Industrial Revolution and job creation. My government would make coding and robotics standard in senior high school,” he said.
In order to make Ghana a digital hub in Africa, Dr Bawumia assures that his government will work with industry players in setting clear policy guidelines that will remove any investor uncertainty and difficulties in business planning, including the expeditious allocation of spectrum, driven more by the goal of enhancing digital inclusion and less by revenue considerations.
According to him, he is determined to unlock Ghana’s potential by implementing initiatives that will empower the nation’s youth to thrive in the digital age.
Story: Kwabena Kyekyeku
