Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has expressed optimism that the Ghana Electronic Pharmacy Platform (ePharmacy) will succeed despite doubts in the minds of some Ghanaians. He said the same way people expressed doubts when other digital innovations such as the digital address system, mobile money interoperability, and drone medical services were introduced, they are doing the same with regard to e-Pharmacy.
Dr. Bawumia said these while speaking at the launch of the pharmacy, Africa’s first national-scale ePharmacy in Accra on Monday, July 18. He said “There are, however, many, who refuse to understand the importance of digitalization to our economic transformation. Therefore, they will mock any innovation.
They mocked the digital address system, they mocked the mobile money interoperability because they did not understand when we said that when we bring mobile money interoperability, every adult Ghanaian would be able to have a bank account.
“Today, with mobile money interoperability, 90% of adult Ghanaians have at least either a mobile money account or a bank account and the two are interoperable, they are working like the same, so we have achieved that objective.”
“They do not realize that through the Ghana card, we have been able to increase the proportion of Ghanaians with Tax Identification Numbers from 4% when we came into the office to 85%,” he added. Dr. Bawumai further stated, “People did not understand why the GhanacaGhana certifiedabout by ICAO, could be used as a travel document and mocked the idea.
Today, it is a reality and our diasporans can use the Ghanacard and travel to Ghana without a visa.” “People did not believe when we launched Ghana Pay, to make Ghana the first country in the world to have a bank-wide mobile money wallet.
Usually, it is the telcos who issue mobile money wallets.” “People could not understand how to zipline medical drone service could be used to deliver medical supplies to save lives. They tried to convince people that drones were used to take pictures of women in bathrooms. Today, as we speak, Ghana has the largest drone delivery service in the world.”
“Unfortunately, for people of governments that try to lead our country to a new level, they are confronted with a mindset that only sees impossibilities; a mindset that refuses to believe that an African country like Ghana can lead the world in implementing digital technology.
“This is why I enjoy proving the skeptics wrong all the time. Usually, when I say we are going to do this, they say he is lying. And when it comes, they keep quiet. Ultimately, we must all remember that you cannot transform an economy with just brick and mortar. You can only transform an economy with ideas, systems, and institutions. Not just brick and mortar.”
