By Kizito CUDJOE
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has launched the CitizenApp Data Interoperability System (CADIS), a platform aimed at consolidating public services.
Among others, it seeks to deepen the country’s digital transformation as well as ensure efficient and effective revenue mobilsation.
The app, called the ‘CitizenApp’ according to Dr. Bawumia, forms part of a broader national strategy to modernise governance and improve service delivery through digital systems – a priority of the Akufo-Addo administration.
Speaking at the launch in Accra, the Vice President reflected on the country’s journey toward digitalisation, noting how government has made technology a foundation of national development.
“Before 2017, digitalisation was peripheral to our development agenda – with several sectors mired in slow, manual processes. Our system was inefficient, non-transparent and prone to corruption,” he said. “Today, we are rewriting that story.”
The CitizenApp seeks to centralise access to essential government services; a solution to the fragmented platforms currently used for different public services – from renewing health insurance to paying utility bills.
Users can now perform a range of tasks – from registering for a birth certificate to paying local assembly charges – all through a single app. Dr. Bawumia stressed that this digital unification is not just a matter of convenience but an integral part of building a more efficient, transparent public sector.
The Vice President also noted how digital reforms have helped drive financial inclusion and economic participation in previously underserved areas.
“Mobile money has become one of the most important financial tools in Ghana’s economy, enabling millions to participate in the formal financial system. This was a major step toward bridging the gap between formal and informal economies,” Dr. Bawumia noted, adding that the CitizenApp is set to build on that success.
He said since 2017 government has undertaken several initiatives aimed at leveraging technology to improve public services. These include the Ghana Card, National Digital Property Address System and E-Pharmacy Platform among others.
He however acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly in rural areas where access to essential services is still limited.
By introducing features like data interoperability, which allows seamless data flow between government agencies, the CitizenApp aims to eliminate bureaucracy, reduce corruption and ensure more equitable service access for all Ghanaians.
According to the Vice President, this app will be a “companion for life” – assisting citizens in everything from acquiring driver’s licences to filing taxes, right up to processing death certificates.
Dr. Bawumia urged the public to embrace the platform, saying: “We are not just launching an app today; we are launching a new era of citizen engagement. This app is built with you in mind, and your feedback will be vital to making it even better”.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Finance Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam noted adopting this technology tool will address some of the country’s most pressing challenges: those that affect the livelihoods of Ghanaians, stability of the economy and transparency of governance systems.
He noted that for too long government services have been delivered through fragmented systems which have made accessing essential services more complicated than necessary.
It is against this backdrop that he said the roll-out of this new system will ensure citizens are able to seamlessly access government services from every part of the country.
Commissioner General-Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Julie Essiam, for her part said the platform’s introduction will eliminate frustrations that have for too long been associated with accessing public services.
“We are building a system that cuts through bureaucracy, reduces waiting times and puts the power of information and services directly in the hands of the people,” she stated.
Additionally, she said filing taxes will become easy, with the tap of a few buttons on a phone. “The data needed to file your taxes will be pulled from multiple agencies, so you won’t have to chase down forms or go from office to office,” she added.
Director-General-National Information Technology Agency (NITA), Richard Okyere-Fosu, also remarked that the app “is built on the premise of data security and regulatory compliance”.
He added that: “No longer will government agencies need to manually copy data into spreadsheets or share sensitive information through unsecured channels,” – assuring that every piece of data will be shared in compliance with data protection regulations, ensuring that citizens’ personal information is secure at all times.
Mr. Okyere-Fosu further noted that “the new system will benefit every Ghanaian by reducing bureaucracy, increasing transparency and delivering real convenience”.
