YouthConnectk Africa Summit: Google to integrate Ghana’s GPS into its mapping system- Dr. Bawumia

The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says the Government of Ghana has entered into an agreement with the international technology firm, Google, to incorporate the country’s GPS address system in its mapping system.

According to him, such agreement was reached after Google technically evaluated and certify Ghana’s addressing system.

Speaking on behalf of the President at the opening of the YouthConnekt Africa Summit on the theme: “Africa Beyond Aid: Positioning the Youth for the Post COVID Economic and AFCFTA Opportunities in Accra, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, said government is using technology to solve many challenges facing the country.

“We have engaged google since last year and we have now obtain the agreement because they have to go through technical processes to evaluate our GPS digital system and so by the end of this year, goggle have agreed to allow us to integrate our digital address system into goggle maps. So people can use them here in Ghana”, he said.

“We also discovered a lot of the youth don’t have a bank account and therefore excluded from the financial system which we have tackled it through the mobile money interoperability system making it possible for about 90 percent of the youth having bank accounts”, he stated.

Operationalised in 2020, the YouthConnekt Africa Hub aims to contribute to the achievement of Africa’s SDGs mandate, the AU 2063 agenda, and AU Youth Charter.

Through national YouthConnekt initiatives, the Hub accomplishes its mandate by: coordinating a global network to create a continental ecosystem for African youth, sharing experience and knowledge on program and policy design, youth initiatives, and providing a conduit for resources at scale and data on youth empowerment initiatives.

Also, the Assistant Secretary General and Director – UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa stressed on the need for African governments to initiate youth centered policies to reduce the growing poverty on the continent.

“Poverty is on the increase in general, and that extreme poverty in particular is rising at alarming proportions. This is a trend that has been exacerbated by the Covid 19 pandemic – but one that nonetheless exposes the faulty lines in the development models that prioritized neither provision of services, inclusion, nor maximizingof Africa’s resources for Africa’s development.”

“The spotlight on Covid-19 should usher in a new page that accelerates action on Africa’s Beyond Aid Agenda” she noted.

She again added that there is a lot that is empowering about the theme and the possibility that the continent of Africa can thrive without charity and that, that the people of Africa are taking their destiny into their own hands, stating that, “This is very much about dignity.”

“It holds a truth: that Africa has within its confines – on its land and its people enough resources to drive its economic sustenance”,

“And so, when we talk about Africa Beyond Aid, as an African myself, I know intrinsically that we are on the right track. A little late – but certainly welcome”, she added.

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif also described the youth as Africa’s greatest asset adding, “Africa is reported to have the fastest-growing youth population in the world. This simply means, our greatest resource isn’t the gold, diamond, cocoa, timber or oil, but our energetic and determined youth.”

“Changes in demography, technology, economy, politics and other related factors had therefore necessitated the organisation of summits such as the Youth Connekt to unite, connect and prepare the African Youth to become prosperous citizens to help transform the continent”, Mr. Ussif noted.

The youth, he indicated are key agents of development and called on all government agencies and policymakers to assign them strategic roles in the developmental planning process.

“Young people are at the centre of today’s most important strategic possibilities and problems. From developing the global economy to combatting violent extremism to establishing sustainable democracies,” he added.

He urged all participants to ensure they reap the full benefits of the summit by engaging, networking and building bonds with their counterparts from other countries in order to ensure sustainable growth and development.

Mr. Ussif further noted that Africa cannot deliberate on shaping the future without talking about the welfare and wellbeing of young people.

“It is important that all of us take these ideas forward to harness the value of a youthful population, holding human rights, gender equality, development of human capital, and dignity at the center of all our investments. Only by providing opportunities that open the future to all young people do we create a brighter future,” he added.

The Minister for Youth and Culture for Rwanda, Rosemary Mbanbazi, who delivered a speech on behalf of the President of Rwanda, H. E Paul Kagame, urged the youth to think outside the box and come up with solutions to Africa’s challenges, especially those confronting the youth.

She emphasized the need for Africa to strive without aid by preparing the mindset of the youth and providing the enabling environment for them to prosper.

Several key speakers such as the CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, the Secretary-General of AfCFTA, Wamkele Mane, among others addressed the youth.

Adopted by the African Union, the YouthConnekt Africa is a Pan-African programme established to co-design and accelerate relevant solutions for youth socio-economic development, and to support intergovernmental knowledge exchange on policy, programmes and partnerships.

The 2021 edition of the Youth Connekt Africa Summit is the first large continental convening focused solely on drawing stakeholders together to address the most pressing youth development demands within this post Covid-19 pandemic period which has not only Africa through the loss of human life, but also set back the continent’s thriving economies.

This year’s summit is the first after the Covid-19 pandemic and also the first to be held outside the country of Rwanda.

Present at the summit were over 3000 youth at AICC with over 1000 others joining across the globe online.

The summit was hosted by the Government of Ghana and financially supported by UNDP and other partners.

Source: africaneditors.com/ Eric Nii Sackey