'Africa’s time is now'- Bawumia inspires with digital vision at Cambridge Conference

Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia spoke at the Cambridge Africa Business Conference. He rallied a global audience around Africa’s digital awakening.

He declared, “Africa’s time is now.” The continent has what it needs to lead in innovation. Leaders and institutions must commit to bold, tech-driven reforms.

Dr. Bawumia used Ghana as an example of success. He highlighted how digitisation improved government transparency and access to services.

He mentioned several initiatives: a national digital property address system, the Ghana Card as a unique identifier, and a mobile money interoperability platform. These have become models for other countries.

Digital platforms help governments collect revenue efficiently. They also deliver social interventions accurately and fight corruption through traceable transactions.

“When the systems work,” he stated, “the people benefit.” His remarks emphasized building trust in public institutions with smart technology.

Dr. Bawumia stressed the need for homegrown digital solutions in Africa. “We cannot rely on imported systems that do not understand our unique challenges,” he warned.

He encouraged entrepreneurs and developers to lead African innovation. He pledged Ghana’s support for regional tech collaboration.

His main message was clear: digital transformation is essential, not a luxury. This resonated with students, scholars, and professionals present at the conference.