Former President John Dramani Mahama has ridiculed Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, accusing him of overstating his achievements in Ghana’s digitalisation drive.
Addressing supporters during his Ashanti Region tour, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer referred to an incident at the commissioning of E-Gates at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on December 3, 2024.
Mr. Mahama claimed that Dr. Bawumia experienced a delay when attempting to use the newly launched system, which is designed to streamline immigration processes with technologies like artificial intelligence and biometrics.
Mocking the incident, Mahama quipped, “The digital gate didn’t open for the digital man.” He further criticised the vice president’s digitalisation agenda, adding, “You can do all the propaganda you want about digitalisation, but if the fundamentals are weak, the digital gate will expose you.”
The Vice President inaugurated the state-of-the-art E-Gates at Terminal 3 of KIA, hailing them as a transformative leap in Ghana’s digitalisation efforts. The system integrates the Ghana Card for seamless entry and supports e-visa applications, making Ghana one of the first African countries to implement such advanced border technology.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Bawumia said, “With these E-Gates, Ghana is leading the way in Africa by leveraging cutting-edge technology to provide a faster, more efficient, and secure travel experience.”
The E-Gates aim to eliminate traditional immigration checks, enabling travellers to clear immigration in seconds, a move the government says will enhance the travel experience and modernise public services.
The E-Gate malfunction incident has sparked political debate, with the NDC questioning the credibility of Dr. Bawumia’s digitalisation achievements.
The government, however, has defended the initiative, maintaining it as a landmark achievement in Ghana’s push toward innovation in border management.
As the December 7 general election approaches, the debate over digitalisation has added another layer to the contest between the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition NDC, with both sides vying to prove their vision for Ghana’s future.