Chaos ensued in Ghana’s Parliament on March 4, 2025, during a debate over the nation’s digitisation agenda. Honourable Isaac Adongo criticized the current system’s inefficiencies, emphasizing the need for a coherent strategy. Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin’s inquiries regarding the proceedings reflected deep-seated frustrations, marking a significant moment in parliamentary history.
On March 4, 2025, chaos erupted within the Parliament of Ghana during a debate focusing on the nation’s digitisation agenda. The discussion intensified when Honourable Isaac Adongo, the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, voiced his discontent regarding the effectiveness of digitisation in the country. He criticized the current system, questioning its validity when personal identification such as a Ghana Card holds more significance than physical presence when accessing services.
In his impassioned statement, he asserted, “What type of digitisation is this? You take my biodata on a card, and when I appear in person, I am not important, but the card lying at home is? Go to your bank today without carrying your Ghana Card, there should be proper digitisation so that when you appear at the bank, your digital data can be accessed and processed,” raising concern about the uncoordinated nature of the digitisation efforts. Adongo emphasized that digitisation should be approached strategically and guided by a coherent blueprint.
Following his remarks, the First Deputy Speaker, Honourable Bernard Ahiafor, invited another parliamentary member to contribute; however, tensions escalated further. Minority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin interrupted, expressing his discontent and confusion regarding the climate of the debate. He exclaimed, “What is going on? What is happening here? We will not allow this! What is going on in this chamber? No, this has never happened in the history of Ghana’s politics. Why?” calling attention to the unprecedented nature of the proceedings.
This extraordinary parliamentary session, characterized by disagreements on digitisation, has drawn significant attention to Ghana’s approach to digital transformation. As discussions continue, the effectiveness of the digitisation agenda will be scrutinized in the context of the concerns raised by the representatives into the Parliament’s procedures.
For additional context and insights, viewers are encouraged to watch a special edition of People and Places, which features the story of the return of the head of Kwame Nkrumah’s bronze statue after 43 years, connected to Ghana’s historical narrative.
In summary, the parliamentary session on March 4, 2025, highlighted significant unrest concerning Ghana’s digitisation strategy. Honourable Isaac Adongo articulated substantial critiques of the process, emphasizing that the digitisation agenda is lacking coherence and fails to prioritize user experience. The ensuing chaos, led by Minority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin’s protests, marks a critical moment in Ghana’s political discourse, shedding light on the need for a more structured approach to digitisation.
Original Source: www.ghanaweb.com