In Ghana, the promises of building new roads and hospitals are quite
accustomed phrases older voters are far too well familiar with during election
periods. From political events to the dissemination of messages on traditional
and new media, these mediums are filled with such oral contracts between
politicians and the masses. The euphoria of elections also propels such rhetoric
to the highest altitude, curtailing critical thinking among citizens.

As a developing country, of course these infrastructural developments are
hugely needed, and such commitments should be well articulated during
electoral campaigns and achieved when a political party forms government.
Currently, the younger demographic in Ghana who are estimated to be about
60% to 70% of the voting percentage, argue that such development promises are
the bare minimum and are yearning for bolder solutions from politicians. They
are right, these infrastructure projects will help solve social and economic
challenges faced by millions of Ghanaians but ultimately, Ghana needs more
daring, practical, innovative, and expedited solutions to move the country on a
path to a brighter future. As many politicians are becoming very informed about
the shift in what voters are asking for, especially the younger demographic,
campaign manifestos are starting to be inventive and totally modifying
infrastructural promises with digitization, or 24-hour economy promises, hoping
these will appeal to the younger voting demographic.

According to news sources, H.E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, "Vice
President of The Republic of Ghana and Presidential Candidate of the New
Patriotic Party (NPP)," has proposed a credit scoring system in Ghana. He led
the development and flawless implementation of the Ghana Card (which
currently has one of the highest historical adaptation rates among many
executed government programs by far).
He continues to be a strong proponent
of database centralization, expansion of financial inclusion via mobile money
interoperability, and using technology to boost productivity across multiple
industries and government institutions.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's ideas are innovative and will create a level playing
field for lower and middle-income Ghanaians to climb the economic ladder
progressively. The over 70% informal economy will be able to utilise some of
the above-mentioned digital systems to access financing to grow their respective
businesses easily.
Simultaneously, these business owners can pay their business taxes seamlessly
which ultimately helps the government to collect taxes payable across citizens,
industries evenly, and the informal sector. These are some of the basic
foundations needed to leapfrog Ghana's economy into a robust economy. Dr.
Mahamudu Bawumia's proposed credit scoring system based on data gathered
from the Ghana Card will give organizations the needed information to enable
them to provide services to the average Ghanaian. This system is comparable to
Western countries. Such a digital system also boosts mobile money expansion
and could improve financial inclusion by promoting prudent borrowing and
curtailing current predatory lending practices.
At the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Former President John Mahama
also proposed a 24-hour economy. The detail of his big idea sounds half-baked
as the former president stated "24-hour economy means that nightclubs in the
country would operate seven days a week, including morning, afternoon,
evening, and midnight". One certainty we know is Ghana's youth and middle
class will not want to run shifts dancing to King Paluta's Makoma song at various night clubs
Former President John Mahama's idea of a 24-hour
economy has raised skepticism due to a lack of further information about his
vision. If the proponent of the concept does not know how his thought will be
materialised and lacks foresight, what are the chances that it will be
implemented?
The NPP's transformative idea is the implementation of a digital system, while
the NDC's is the 24-hour economy. Dr. Bawumia's plan offers immediate
advantages for loans and financial security for businesses and citizens.
Clearly, the digital plans of H.E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia are more
pragmatic and realistic as such digital systems have been working in Western
countries for well over a century now. Dr. Bawumia's digital plan offers a
practical solution to the issue of competitive credit, encourages financial
responsibility and accountability, and addresses a major barrier to economic
growth in Ghana.

Ghana is once again at a crossroads. This is why the majority of Ghanaians in
the diaspora endorse Dr. Bawumia to be the next president of Ghana. He has the
ideas, fortitude, and foresight to get Ghana where it needs to be. The country
needs transformative, practical, proven, tested, and BOLD solutions that will
unequivocally take Ghana's growth to the next level. Dr. Bawumia is the man to
get the job done.

William Akoto, BCS, MBA
NPP Canada