Bawumia at Harvard:  Urges African Leaders to rethink policymaking with a “mindset of possibilities”

Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has urged African policymakers to embrace technology and innovation as fundamental pillars for economic transformation.

Speaking at the 27th Annual Conference on “Beyond Borders: A Myth or a Mandate for Africa’s Progress?” at Harvard University in Boston, Dr. Bawumia highlighted the immense potential of digitalisation in addressing Africa’s developmental challenges.

He encouraged leaders across the continent to rethink policymaking with a “mindset of possibilities,” stressing that Africa has the capability to leapfrog advanced economies through strategic adoption of technology.

“Policymakers must act with a mindset of possibilities. We should embrace technology and not be intimidated by it. We must believe that we can leapfrog advanced nations in many areas if we put our minds to it,” he stated.

Dr. Bawumia reflected on Ghana’s economic landscape, noting that for over six decades, the country has relied heavily on informal economic structures.

However, he emphasised that the shift toward a formal, data-driven economy is now taking shape, positioning Ghana for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“Today, we are building formal systems and a database-driven economy to compete in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Our challenge is to use digitalisation to solve current problems while laying the foundation for future jobs, leapfrogging from the Second to the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he noted.

The former vice president stressed that Africa’s future prosperity hinges on technology-driven policies that foster economic resilience, create sustainable jobs, and enhance global competitiveness.

As Africa navigates its economic transformation, Dr. Bawumia’s call reinforces the urgency for bold, innovative strategies that leverage technology to unlock the continent’s full potential in the digital economy.

Source: Emmanuel Nkansah || Techfocus24