A 224–page book, titled ‘The Enabling Architecture for a Digital Economy’, has been launched in Accra.
Co-authored by Professor Kwaku Appiah-Adu and Franklin Asare, it is a must-read for business executives, investors, academics, aspiring managers, business students and entrepreneurs.
The book is a nuanced masterpiece examining the composite set of building blocks that are critical to the development of a robust digital economy. Its special emphasis is on the developing world and offers strategic advice for institutions, economic sectors, and entire nations. The event was chaired by Dr. Ernest Addison, Governor of Bank of Ghana, with Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee as the Guest of Honour.
One cannot pursue a digital agenda without realising the need for digital knowledge and skills development. Against the backdrop of this realisation, the idea for this book, ‘The Enabling Architecture for a Digital Economy’, was birthed.
This book could not have come at a better time. It lends a key voice to the conversation on digital transformation in developing and emerging economies, especially from the African perspective. It is a key reference point and inspiration source for the policy-makers and economic actors with the power to affect the progressive, sustainable change we all seek. Technology has become a key player in business, education, governance, commerce, security, and even social interactions.
The book makes compelling reading as it defines and ably discusses the subject of digital transformation. In eight concise chapters, the book defines the building elements required for the digital architecture of Ghana, Africa, and emerging economies. With the book’s combination of academic and practical content, it is an applicable guide for any firm or country looking to make the switch from a conventional approach to a digital one.
This book, co-authored by Prof. Kwaku Appiah-Adu and Franklin Asare – two accomplished professionals, with foreword by the Rt. Hon. Sir Tony Blair, a former Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is highly practitioner-oriented with a spice of scholarly ingredients in the area of digital transformation. The issues raised are very topical and relevant to business management and national development. The chapters are well developed with examples that are highly relevant to the subject matter and provide highly useful lessons for policy-makers, business leaders, managers, researchers and students.
In the remarks by the co-authors, Professor Kwaku Appiah-Adu and Franklin Asare provided the motivation for writing the book, the thematic pillars the book was built on, and their relevance to the developing economy context. They also discussed the process adopted to get started and the challenges that had to be overcome in ensuring that the book saw the light of day, the critical role that Ace Publishers played in delivering a high-quality product at the end of the process.
Following the remarks by the editors, the book reviewer, Kofi Dadzie, provided an exhilarating presentation of his views on the book. He indicated that the book is a true reflection of the authors’ immense experience in the tech space and demonstrates their vision and passion to drive transformation to realise the needed change at the institutional, sectoral and national levels in Ghana and other developing economies. He noted that it is written in a language that makes reading exciting and understandable. Furthermore, he added that it would be a useful guide to CEOs, heads of public and private sector institutions, corporate leaders and managers, researchers, students and individuals interested in improving their knowledge in the digital economy
A lovely musical interlude preceded the introduction of the Guest of Honour and the launch of the book by Rev. Dr Joyce Rosalind Aryee. Dela Jackson, an accomplished saxophonist, expertly performed a medley of Christian jazz pieces.
The highlight of the launch was the sale of the special first dozen hard cover copies. Several key personalities attended the event. They included Professor Egya Amonoo-Neizer (Vice Chancellor Emeritus, KNUST and former High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, with accreditation to Malawi and Mozambique); Kabral Blay-Amihere (former diplomat and veteran journalist); Elizabeth Ohene (former Minister of State for Tertiary Education); Sam Okudzeto (member, Council of State), the clergy, captains of industry, CEOs of public sector enterprises and private sector firms from different industries – including banks, insurance, pensions, telcos, IT firms, hospitality, manufacturing, extractives, energy, oil and gas, construction industry, the big four accounting firms, and our development partners.
Following the successful launch, the Chairman of the event, Dr. Ernest Addison, himself a public sector CEO, remarked that the launch had not only been well-attended but highly successful. Addressing the launch, he said that digital technology can be a potent tool for financial inclusion and that the book has relevance with the operations of the central bank in using digital technology to transform society. Touching on the book, Dr. Addison added that the co-authors skillfully combined their experiences in the current financial environment in which businesses operated, highlighted digital strategic development, and provided an insider perspective of emerging and advanced economies. He noted that the policy derivatives from a book of this nature would significantly help CEOs, business executives, policy-makers, consultants, academics and students to improve on their professional principles and entrepreneurial endeavours.
The book, published by Ace Publishers – a Ghanaian company, is available on Amazon. Its availability online ensures that it has global reach and significance. It will soon be available in local bookstores.
