Bawumia urges African policymakers to embrace technology for economic growth
Former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged African leaders to adopt a forward-thinking approach and leverage technology as a catalyst for economic progress.
Addressing the 27th Annual Conference themed Beyond Borders: A Myth or a Mandate for Africa’s Progress? at Harvard University in Boston, Dr. Bawumia stressed that Africa’s development depends on its ability to embrace digital transformation.
“Policymakers must act with a mindset of possibilities. We should embrace technology and not be intimidated by it. We must believe that we can leapfrog advanced nations in many areas if we put our minds to it,” he stated.
He reflected on Ghana’s economic journey, noting that the country operated largely within an informal system for more than six decades after gaining independence.
However, he pointed out that significant strides are now being made to establish a structured, data-driven economy capable of thriving in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. “Today, we are building formal systems and a database-driven economy to compete in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Our challenge is to use digitalization to solve current problems while laying the foundation for future jobs, leapfrogging from the Second to the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he added.
