Speakers at the opening ceremony of this year's Ghana Digital& Innovation Week (GDIW) have underscored the importance of digital innovation to benefit all people in the country.According to them, there is a need to ensure that digital innovation benefits all groupings of people, including people with disabilities.Speaking at the opening of the three-day GDIW2024, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Charles Abani, added that Ghana and all the countries in Africa must seize the opportunity of digital innovation to speed up the socio-economic development of the continent.He said: "We must leverage digital technology, or this continent will be left behind again", stressing that digital transformation is at the heart of progress in today's world.Commenting on the theme of the event- 'Innovate Together: Collaborating for Digital Transformation and Impact', Mr Abaninoted: "Innovation requires collaboration.
Otherwise, an idea remains isolated and may not address a real need.
The graveyard of bad apps is full of solutions to problems that didn't exist".Praise Ghana's stridesHe used the occasion to praise Ghana's strides in digital transformation, revealing that the country now has about 24 million active internet users.
This represents 70% of the population, while mobile connections surpass 41.5 million.E-commerce in Ghana is growing at an annual rate of 28%, and the digital services sector contributes nearly 10% to the country's GDP, according to him.In the area of financial inclusion, Ghana has seen transformative changes, particularly through mobile money, which now has an 87% penetration rate, one of the highest in Africa.Mr Abani lauded the government's digital initiatives, such as the e-payment platform, the development of over 200,000 kilometres of fibre-optic infrastructure, and the Ghana Card, which has generated digital IDs for more than 18 million people.These innovations are laying the foundation for sustained growth and creating new opportunities, particularly in finance. "A digital address system, combined with a digital ID, gives us the basis for individual credit ratings and access to immense financial opportunities," Mr Abani said.Gaps in digital infrastructureThe Head of Development Cooperation, German Embassy, Franziska Jebens, said: "While Ghana's digital transformation has seen significant milestones, challenges persist, particularly within the broader economic context.The economic struggles faced by the country inevitably impact the digital sector.