Member of Parliament for Tano North, Dr Gideon Boako, has highlighted the transformative impact of digitalisation on Ghana’s economy, calling for recognition of former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s role in championing this shift. 

Speaking during the debate on the 2025 budget statement, Dr Boako emphasised that for the first time, Ghana’s economic growth has been significantly driven by digitalisation rather than traditional sectors such as cocoa, gold, and oil.

Dr Boako recounted how Ghana’s economy had long relied on these natural resources, with little success in diversifying beyond them. 

“Mr Speaker, throughout my formative years, I was taught that the backbone of Ghana’s economy was cocoa, gold, and later oil. For years, we struggled to find a way to properly diversify beyond these resources,” he stated. 

However, he noted that recent economic data from the Government Statistical Service (GSS) had revealed a remarkable shift.

According to Dr Boako, GSS reports indicate that in 2024, Ghana’s economy grew by a record 1.2 trillion cedis in nominal terms. 

“For the first time, the massive growth recorded in 2024 did not come from cocoa, gold, or oil but was driven by data and SMS transactions—that is, digitalisation,” he explained. 

He stressed that this milestone marked a new era in Ghana’s economic development, with technology and digital services becoming a major driver of growth.

Dr Boako credited the digital transformation to the efforts of the previous government, particularly Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who played a leading role in advancing Ghana’s digital agenda. 

“Mr Speaker, digitalisation efforts championed by the former Vice President over the last eight years have significantly contributed to this economic growth, and he must be commended,” he stated.