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Accra, Ghana – The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) bagged two prestigious Awards at the second edition of Africa Public Sector Conference and Awards (APSCA) ceremony.
While the Authority received the Most Outstanding Contribution Public Sector Digitization Award, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Lydia Dsane-Selby took the Outstanding Women in Public Sector Award.
This latest development follows Policy Think Tank, IMANI Ghana’s recent Award acknowledging the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) as Ghana’s most Innovative Public Sector institution at the 2019 Inspirational Public Sector Leadership Awards (IPSLA).
A Deputy CEO Admin/HR, Mrs. Yaa Pokuaa Baiden received the Awards at the climax of APSCA’s two days Conferences and Awards night at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra.
Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was there as the Guest of Honour.
In his speech, the Vice President commended the NHIA for adopting digitization to enhance social auditing and accountability.
He pointed to the Mobile Renewal Service saying, “Renewal of NHIS registration via mobile phone has been a phenomenal innovation, eliminating the need for queues, delays and bribery, and also increasing access to health care by those who need the services most.”
He said the health sector in recent times witnessed rapid transformation because of government’s digitization drive.
“We are digitizing hospital records to improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery. We expect that the process will be complete across all hospitals within two years.”
“Drones and Decentralized Delivery of Health Services: Ghana has joined Rwanda in using drones to deliver critical medical products, blood products, medical cargo, emergency vaccines, life saving and essential medicines on demand to every part of the country, regardless of road infrastructure. Today Ghana runs the largest medical drone delivery service in the world.”
The Vice President further highlighted the importance of digitization in enhancing both private and public
sectors efficiency.
“Leveraging on technology improves efficiency, limits human interactions, and improves traceability of transactions.”
“In many countries not only has digitization brought financial services to the doorstep of ordinary citizens, it has been an important avenue for creating market access. For businesses the benefits are clearly widespread and attractive, and new virtual savings products and platforms continue to emerge.”
“We have therefore since 2017 sought to formalize the Ghanaian society by leveraging on technology and digitization of systems to improve administrative systems and increase transparency,” Alhaji Dr. Bawumia stressed.
He insisted that the relevance of digitization in enhancing good governance in Ghana could not be underestimated.
“With digitization, we are introducing new and more efficient ways of doing things. We are changing the way things are done in the affected institutions for the benefit of ordinary Ghanaians.”
“The introduction of National ID Cards is a game changer. Completed, it will form the basis of an integrated database with Passports, Tax Identification Numbers, and Drivers’ Licences. No one can hide.”
“Registrar General’s Department has been digitized. The automation of the application for Business Operating Permits has removed the complexities of the process. The process is currently, simple, transparent, efficient and is building yet another database to readily track business ownership and encouraging formalization of the economy for beneficial revenue mobilization purposes.”
He emphasized, “On Digital Property Addressing, the process of tagging all 4 million houses with digital addresses is on-going. A biometric national identity and a digital address uniquely establish personal and immovable property identity.”
In the telecommunications industry, the Vice President recalled the Mobile Money payments interoperability project.
“This is a major step to financial inclusion and movement towards cashless payments for government services. All payments for government services and government transfers to persons and businesses are expected to go cashless by June 2020.”
APSCA 2019
The APSCA 2019 Conference sought to provide opportunities to build partnership, share insights on strategies, policies and best practices that will drive efficient and smarter public service delivery in Africa.
Spearheaded by Instinct Wave, APSCA is a gathering of leaders in the public and private sectors across Africa to provide opportunities to build partnerships, share insights on strategies, policies and best practices that will drive more efficient and smarter public services in Africa.
It is also a celebration of excellence, accomplishments, growth and innovation of public and private sector organizations in Africa.
By SavannahNewsOnline.Com/ Abdul Karim Naatogmah
