By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Takoradi, Sept. 20, GNA – Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister says digitalisation has evolved to become a necessity in every sector including education, health, agriculture, hospitality, governance, and commerce.
He said in the context of the Region, digital transformation was not merely a strategy for modernization but an essential tool for development.
The Minister said, “We have a unique opportunity to harness technology to solve Region-specific challenges, such as improving access to quality healthcare in remote areas, digitizing our industries, and creating smarter cities that align with the needs of our growing urban population.”
Mr Darko-Mensah was speaking at the Ghana Digital Innovation Week (GDIW) 2024, celebration held in Takoradi on the theme “innovate together; collaborating for digital transformation and impact”
The GDIW 2024, was to celebrate the accomplishment of Ghana’s digital innovation ecosystem and build momentum towards a common vision for its future development.
The event, hosted by Duapa Werkspace, a Business Incubation and Technology hub in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, brought together innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to explore the opportunities and challenges within the digital innovation landscape.
He said, through technology, sanitation management had seen a boost through the e-tankas model, an electronic platform, and a revenue-generating mechanism for the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies.
He called for collaboration and continuity of businesses, especially in the private sector, for sustainability.
Mr. Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman, Ghana Hub Network mentioned that one of the cornerstones of successes in digital transformation was strong partnerships.
He commended the government for its forward-looking policies, and the private sector for the investments being made into the technology and innovation space.
Mr. Adu-Gyamfi said, “But there is more work to be done” and called for partnerships among the government agencies, international organizations, and businesses.
Such partnerships, he explained, could facilitate investments in research, and development, and encouraged the sharing of knowledge, as a means of fostering an environment where innovation could flourish.
He continued that “at the Ghana Hubs Network, we are committed to ensuring that our programmes reach the remotest corners of the country, including our rural areas, to bridge the digital divide”.
He said the youth in these Regions were equally capable of driving change, with the right resources and platforms.
Mr. David Ofori, Director of Innovation at the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), explained that the outfit nurtured job creators and not job seekers.
“The day and time when government offer job is almost gone; you need to innovate and partner with other people to support and grow your business” he said
The event had in its fold Panel Discussions on; Overcoming Barriers to Digital Transformation in Ghana, the Future of Work in a Digital Economy as well as Leveraging Digital Tools for Sustainable Development.
GNA