Former Vice-President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has defended his focus on digitalisation, arguing that digital technology has become central to the modern global economy.

He says digitalisation should not be treated as a separate subject from economic development because countries that fail to build strong digital systems risk falling behind in the global economy.

Speaking to NPP members in Japan on Thursday, November 5, 2026, Dr Bawumia responded to criticisms that he had abandoned discussions about Ghana’s economy in favour of digitalisation.

“Many say I’ve abandoned economic discussions for digitalisation, but they fail to understand that the global economy in itself is now digital,” he stated.

According to him, digital infrastructure is essential for improving economic activities, expanding business opportunities and strengthening the operations of public institutions.

Bawumia credits Ghana Card for GRA revenue mobilisation

Dr Bawumia also credited the introduction and integration of the Ghana Card into government systems with helping the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) improve revenue mobilisation.

He argued that linking the national identification system to tax administration has helped expand the identification of taxpayers and strengthen the country’s revenue collection framework.

“GRA now generates significantly more revenue because of NPP’s innovative introduction of the Ghana Card,” he said.

The Ghana Card has been integrated into several public sector databases, including systems used by the GRA, SSNIT and other government institutions.

The integration has also allowed the Ghana Card number to serve as the Tax Identification Number (TIN), making it easier to identify taxpayers and connect information across government agencies.

However, the extent to which the Ghana Card alone has contributed to increases in GRA revenue is a matter that requires separate assessment, since revenue performance is influenced by several factors, including tax policies, economic activity and enforcement.

ECG revenue: From GH¢450 million to GH¢2 billion

The NPP flagbearer also highlighted the digitalisation of the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) payment system as an example of how technology can improve revenue collection.

He claimed that before the introduction of cashless transactions, ECG was collecting approximately GH¢450 million monthly.

According to him, the introduction of digital payment systems and the decision to move away from cash payments significantly improved the company’s collections.

“Since we digitalised ECG’s payment system and introduced cashless transactions, its monthly revenue has increased from GH¢450 million to GH¢2 billion,” he stated.

Dr Bawumia argued that the digital system has made it easier for customers to purchase electricity credit without visiting ECG offices, while also reducing opportunities for revenue leakages.

In an earlier speech published by Ghana News Agency in July 2023, he cited an increase in ECG’s monthly collections from GH¢450 million to GH¢1.2 billion following digitalisation.

The latest GH¢2 billion figure is his new claim and has not been independently verified in the reports reviewed for this article.

Digitalisation remains central to Bawumia’s economic message

Dr Bawumia’s latest comments reinforce his long-standing argument that digital infrastructure can support economic growth, improve public sector efficiency and expand financial inclusion.

During his time as Vice-President, he championed several digital initiatives, including the Ghana Card, mobile money interoperability, the national digital property addressing system, paperless ports and online government services.

He has repeatedly maintained that these initiatives are helping Ghana formalise its economy and improve the delivery of public services.

His remarks in Japan also bring the relationship between digitalisation and economic management back into public discussion as the NPP flagbearer continues to explain his economic vision.

For Dr Bawumia, digitalisation is not separate from economic development but an important part of how modern economies operate and compete globally.

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