The Ghanaian government’s next phase in its digitalization drive is set to be the adoption of blockchain technology, according to the country’s vice president. He stated that his administration aims to become one of the few governments worldwide powered by blockchain, and the first in Africa.
A Blockchain-Powered Government
The Vice President of Ghana, Mahamadu Bawumia, has stated that the adoption of blockchain technology is set to be the next phase of his government’s digitalization drive. Bawumia argued that the adoption of this technology will not only ensure government data and records are tamper-proof but will also make his administration a “blockchain-powered government.”
According to a report by Ghanaweb, the Vice President views blockchain as an ideal digital tool for combating corruption in the public sector. Bawumia, who spoke at the recently held 14th Commonwealth Regional Conference, expressed hope that government agencies will be fully digitalized by the end of the year to ensure the smooth implementation of the next phase.
Bawumia expressed his belief that the government will be able to emulate countries like Estonia by integrating its databases. He said:
For Ghana, our next stage of the digitalization journey is to complete the integration of our databases through the X-Road Integration Infrastructure, as done in other countries like Estonia. We will then apply blockchain technology to all of government, for the rapid and immutable identification of modifications in digital data and intelligent devices.
In addition to making records or data immutable, Bawumia, the Ghanaian Vice President and the ruling New Patriotic Party’s Presidential candidate in the December polls, said the blockchain will be useful in stopping or blocking corruption.
Bawumia also revealed that his administration’s objective is to become one of the few blockchain-powered governments in the world and the first in Africa.