Government will pay Google $400,000 every year for using its online map to operate the Ghana Post GPS application, Managing Director of Ghana Post, James Kwofie has said.

Mr Kwofie disclosed this at a press conference in Accra on Friday, 27 October, 2017.

He further noted that government spent GHS3.5million to publicise the application.

“In terms of the cost, what is being paid for is the back-end solution, data analytics, hardware i.e. the firewalls and servers, Google license, marketing and publicity as well as technical support, and GHS1.7 million VAT which goes back to the government. Contrary to popular believe, Google charges when you use their systems for local purposes or commercial activities. The Google license fee at the moment is $400,000 per year – that is the enterprise package,” he said.

“The Google license fee at the moment is $400,000 per year – that is the enterprise package,” he added.

The Ghana Post GPS App was launched last week by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to address the challenges with the country’s digital address system.

Government awarded a $2.5million contract to VOKACOM for the Ghana Post App.

The application has however come under serious criticisms. Some IT gurus argue that government need not have paid the $2.5million to VOKACOM for the application since it already exists for free on Google.

Others argue that the information that will be gathered on the application is not safe but Nana Osei Afrifa, Chief Executive Officer for Vokakom, the company that designed the app, has assured that the data accepted by the system is safe.