Bawumias Focus On Digitalization And AI Necessary To Push Ghana To The Next Level Prof Francis Owusu

Professor Francis Owusu, a Ghanaian Professor at the Department of Community and Regional Planning at Iowa State University, says Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's effort to promote digitalization in Ghana is commendable.

He asserted that Dr. Bawumia’s digitalization programmes ensure internet productivity is harnessed and effective in the various aspects of national development.

Speaking during a public lecture held at Iowa State University on the book "Dr Bawumia and the contemporary Vice Presidency in Ghana" authored by Prof. Etse Sikanku, Professor Francis Owusu said harnessing the power of digital innovation is a essential requirement for Africa.

He urged the country to take benefit of the next frontier of innovation which is “Artificial Intelligence”.

He said countries with strong internet connectivity and digital infrastructure can innovate and improve their capacities.

He added that strong digitalization infrastructure gives a nation better opportunities to especially  engage with the outside world since technological innovation is a major mechanism around which the world functions.

This will also provide more job opportunities and expand the markets for Ghanaians.

In this regard, he said, it is significant to have a solid digital foundation which is what Dr. Bawumia has committed to all these years, hence he deserves a big applause for his efforts in setting the right foundation.

“It helps to move the country forward in terms of allowing internal process to be effective and allows the country to engage externally. Data centers for machine learning and Artificial Intelligence are all based on having access to internet capabilities”, he averred.

Prof. Sikanku's book examines Dr. Bawumia's contribution to the evolutionary role of Vice Presidents, hence highlights that Dr. Bawumia has through his zeal, commitment and dedication to social progress largely contributed to making the Vice Presidency a more productive office.

During the lecture, Dr. Sikanku also emphasized that Dr. Bawumia has elevated the office of the Vice President by using the office as an instrument for innovation and social advancement.Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/