The Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has shared how some staff at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) undermined his efforts to implement a paperless system.
Dr. Bawumia explained that his team went to digitalize the revenue collection system at ECG to streamline their processes and enhance transparency.
However, he said that after the system was set up, they discovered anomalies.
He disclosed that an expert from National Security was brought in to evaluate the situation, and it was found that some IT department staff had introduced ransomware into the system, causing its failure.
"We needed to send in a team to digitalise revenue collection at the ECG. So we sent in a team, and we began the process of digitalising. Can you believe that workers within the company sabotaged it? They put ransomware into the whole system, and it essentially collapsed.
"We had to bring in National Security personnel, who eventually determined that it was some of the staff in the IT department who were responsible. We located the computer from which this ransomware was injected into the system. It took us a while to restore this system," he recounted.
Dr. Bawumia stated that those responsible for the sabotage were apprehended, and the system was successfully reinstated.
"They submitted a bill that we should pay for them to let the system work. But anyway, they were arrested, and we restored the system and digitalized it. We said that no more cash payments for electricity in Ghana; you can only pay via Mobile Money or your electronic bank transfers. And so that is now the case," he added.
The vice president has been at the forefront of various digitalization initiatives aimed at enhancing the operations of state institutions in an effort to combat corruption in the country.
Watch the video below:
ECG staff sabotaged paperless system to hide corruption - Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia reveals.
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) May 9, 2024
He recounted how state institutions, including ECG staff, resisted the introduction of a paperless system for government services, aimed at preventing corruption and… pic.twitter.com/L3xp5DOmjR
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