The 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 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 same with regards to the e-Pharmacy.
Dr Bawumia said these while speaking at the launch of the ePharmacy, 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 new 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 basically working like the same, so we have achieved that objective.”
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“They do not realise that through the Ghanacard, we have been able to increase the proportion of Ghanaians with Tax Identification Numbers from 4% when we cane into office to 85% to,” he added.
Dr Bawumai further indicated that “People did not understand why the Ghanacard, certified by ICAO, could be used as a travel document and they 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 wallet.”
“People could not understand how zipline medical drone service could be used to deliver medical supplies to save lives. They tried to convince people that drones were to be used for taking 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 impossibilies; a mindset that refuses to believe that an African country like Ghana can lead the world in implementing digital technolgy.
“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.”
