Politics of Monday, 7 October 2024

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ghana makes another giant digital step as Bawumia launches CitizenApp

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia (Middle) among other state officials Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia (Middle) among other state officials

Ghana's growing status as Africa's digital giant received another boost on Monday, October 7, 2024, with the launch of CitizenApp, an innovative digital platform that brings together all digitized public services to enhance public interaction and service delivery.

Vice President and Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who has spearheaded the government's successful digitalization drive, launched the CitizenApp in Accra, with a number of state institutions present.

Speaking, Dr. Bawumia said the launch of the app is further testament to the government's commitment to expanding digital experience and ensuring easy access to public service delivery.

"Today, we take a bold leap forward with the launch of the CitizenApp. The CitizenApp is a comprehensive digital platform designed to centralize and enhance interactions between the government and citizens," Dr. Bawumia said.

"With this single, unified, user-friendly platform, we are consolidating public services to enhance efficiency, accessibility, and convenience for all citizens and residents of Ghana.

"So, if you want to pay your utility bills, make payments for local assembly tolls and charges, including market and parking fees, get digital addresses for locations across Ghana, track, book, and pay for intercity transport, or change your name after marriage, you can do all of that in one place on your mobile phone."

The CitizenApp offers data interoperability between all digitized public services, and Dr. Bawumia explained that through the CitizenApp’s data interoperability system, "we are creating a digital framework that links all government agencies, allowing data to flow seamlessly between them."

"This interoperability system is crucial for improving the speed and quality of government services. The system will reduce bureaucracy and streamline data sharing across agencies, as well as eliminate the need for repeated paperwork," he said.

The CitizenApp, Dr. Bawumia explained, has been built to provide the digital needs of Ghanaians from birth until they depart the earth.

"From the moment a child is born, parents can now apply for a birth certificate with ease, without the need for multiple trips to government offices. The digital system allows for faster processing, giving parents more time to focus on their newborn instead of worrying about paperwork."

As this child grows, the CitizenApp continues to be their companion as it allows the child to digitally process many things, including passports, job searches, and change of name, among many other things.

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