Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has officially launched the CitizenApp, a mobile digital platform designed to enhance citizen engagement and streamline interactions with government agencies.
The launch, which took place in Accra, marks a significant step in the government’s ongoing digitalization efforts, with the CitizenApp offering a one-stop solution for accessing a wide array of government services, designed to provide a more efficient and user-friendly experience for Ghanaians.
Speaking at the launch, Dr. Bawumia highlighted that the app is part of the government’s broader digital transformation agenda, which has been a central focus since 2017 under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has set Ghana on a digital transformation journey towards a brighter and more efficient future for our country, a future where technology empowers our citizens, strengthens our economy, creates opportunities, and offers a more responsive government for all Ghanaians.”
He emphasized how, prior to 2017, digitalization was not seen as integral to national development, with many government agencies still relying on manual processes that created inefficiencies and delays in service delivery.
“Before we began this journey, in 2017, digitalization was largely seen as a peripheral concern, not central to the country’s national development agenda. Several government agencies operated under traditional manual processes, which often led to inefficiencies, delays, and significant bottlenecks in service delivery,” Dr. Bawumia explained.
He went on to describe how the previous system of providing government services involved long queues, multiple in-person visits, and frustrating paperwork, which slowed economic progress and stifled innovation.
“At the time, technology was viewed as an add-on, rather than a core element of national economic strategy,” he added.
The Vice President underscored the importance of the CitizenApp in aligning with the government’s vision of a digitally transformed Ghana, where citizens can interact with the state more efficiently, with less human interference and greater accountability.
“We are moving in a direction that presents major opportunities. We’re just scratching the surface, but once this system is fully implemented, doing business in Ghana will be very easy and smooth. Paying taxes, getting a passport, or registering a business will all become much simpler,” Dr. Bawumia said.
Addressing critics who questioned why an economist would lead the government’s digitalization efforts, Dr. Bawumia stated, “I am grateful that I no longer have to answer these cynics because the results speak for themselves. As the world enters the 4th industrial revolution, it is clear that no economic strategy can succeed without a strong digital foundation.”
The CitizenApp is expected to play a crucial role in bridging the gap between the government and its people, fostering transparency and making government services more accessible to all Ghanaians.
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Source: Audrey Akazum Afolley/ATLFMNEWS
