Akufo-Addo launches digital address system

A new address system to offer every Ghanaian a unique digital address has been launched by President Nana Akufo-Addo to give impetus to businesses and security agencies in the country. Speaking at the launch, President Akufo-Addo urged state institutions and businesses “to leverage on this technology to enhance their operations.” “With this new system, every property in Ghana will have an address and can be accounted for, including the location of the blue kiosk, the ‘waakye’ seller or the ‘koko’ seller,” the President said. Designed by Vokacom, the 2.5 million-dollar National Digital Property Address System is a project by the Ministry of Communications and Ghana Post, and give the country a trustworthy database of addressing. The location-based system will provide an effective means of addressing every location to facilitate the implementation of key government policies, 3FM’s Grace Asare reported. The system is estimated to provide addresses to 16.1billion locations in Ghana, with every 5 by 5 metres square provided with an address, she added Authorities told our correspondent each region will have a unique code down to the district, towns and communities with over 27million Ghanaians.

President Akufo-Addo believes the system will help improve Ghana’s governance as security and health agencies can now respond to emergencies promptly whenever necessary. “Law enforcement agencies can easily assess addresses more effectively in order to deal with crime. Health, fire and ambulance services can effectively locate property locations in order to save lives at a faster rate,” President Akufo-Addo indicated. The system, he said, would also be made a part of the country’s national identification card system, noting that “One cannot obtain the Ghana card without an address. “When the registration commences in November, it is my expectation that all individuals and [properties will be able to obtain their own unique addresses as we strive to build a credible national address register,” he said. President Akufo-Addo is optimistic the new address system would change the face of doing business in Ghana, stating, “This will ultimately, change the way we do business.” Small scale businesses, especially those in the informal sector, he said, would greatly benefit from the system by way of getting the opportunity to be part of the financial system. “…The ‘koko’ seller can now open a bank account, as he or she will be able to meet the basic requirement to access loan facilities from a bank”. He believes this will also provide a platform for easy access to credit “We will be empowered with new ways of doing business. The many businesses ventures that were unviable will become viable. We will see a new generation that will bring up new financial ideas, which will lead to easy access to credit and the rapid development of our country”, he stated. By Stephen Kwabena Effah|editors.3news.com|Ghana