Former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia

Ghana’s former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, delivered an impassioned speech at the Cambridge Africa Business Conference, rallying a global audience around Africa’s digital awakening.

Declaring that “Africa’s time is now,” Dr. Bawumia asserted that the continent has all it needs to lead in innovation—provided its leaders and institutions remain committed to bold, tech-driven reforms.

Using Ghana as a beacon, Dr. Bawumia highlighted how digitisation has improved government transparency and expanded access to services.

He cited the implementation of a national digital property address system, the Ghana Card as a unique identifier, and a groundbreaking mobile money interoperability platform that has become a model for other countries.

He explained that digital platforms have enabled governments to collect revenue more efficiently, deliver social interventions with precision, and combat corruption through traceable transactions.

“When the systems work,” he stated, “the people benefit.” His remarks echoed a broader theme of building trust in public institutions through smart technology.

Dr. Bawumia emphasised the importance of developing homegrown digital solutions. “We cannot rely on imported systems that do not understand our unique challenges,” he warned.