A former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Akwasi Opong-Fosu, has expressed skepticism about the government's digital transformation agenda as a solution to Ghana's economic challenges.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the University of Ghana's Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN), a youth group associated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC), last Tuesday at Legon, Mr. Opong-Fosu argued that digital transformation is not a panacea for the country's deeper economic issues.

"Otherwise, why would someone pick a Dutch passport and say, 'I value this more than a Ghanaian PhD?'" Mr. Opong-Fosu questioned.

"These are indicators of the situation we are in. Just last week, family members who traveled to bring their deceased relative's body to Ghana disappeared... disappeared and abandoned their relative's body. It tells a lot. It tells a lot about what is happening in this country," he said.

Broken economy

Mr. Opong-Fosu emphasized that the economy is "broken down" and cannot be fixed solely through digital transformation.

"You have a broken-down vehicle; that's the economy, and you say, 'I have fuel, V-Power.' No, I've got V-Power to move this vehicle. Who does that?" he asked rhetorically.

"The noise about digitalisation and digital transformation does not add up. Digitalisation is a catalyst, but if the economy has collapsed, you cannot use digital transformation to redeem yourself. It is also one of the diversions," Mr. Opong-Fosu added.

Vote for change

He encouraged the TEIN members to collaborate with other youth groups to vote out the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, stating that it's the only way to build a better Ghana.

"So, you acknowledge what is happening now, and our role is not limited to the NDC youth, but the youth of Ghana. We have something at stake. So, what it means is that we need to hold hands and do the needful, and I believe you know what the needful is. Who can tell me? To vote them out. The youth of this country should hold hands, united around a common cause, to vote these people out. That's the only way we can build the Ghana that we want," he said.