The significant economic advantages for a country with a proper addressing system are enormous. Most importantly, a good addressing system serves as a catalyst in growing the private sector and formalising the economy.
The agenda to transform and formalise the Ghanaian economy started with the implementation of the National Digital Property Address System, also known as the GhanaPostGPS.
In October 2017, the NPP government introduced the Digital Address system (GhanaPostGPS), a modern and revolutionary approach to allocating addresses within a defined space with the aid of the latest geocoding technology.
Through the GhanaPostGPS app, individuals generate a unique code for every property or location in the country. The implementation of the GhanaPostGPS has played a significant role in assigning an address using a system of maps and signs that give the numbers or names of streets and buildings.
It has vehemently revived the nation's designated postal service operator, Ghana Post. The inability to keep up with technological advances in the past bedevilled Ghana Post and almost killed it.
The digital address system served as the salvation and rejuvenation of Ghana Post; before 2017, the company struggled for relevance due to competition from private courier agencies and digital communication service providers.
The Digital Address System, which generates unique postcodes to identify various locations in the country, allows users to easily reach all Ghanaians and connect with all government agencies and other corporate networks.
Since the rollout in October 2017, the digital address system provides every location in Ghana with a unique digital address. The Ghana Post GPS has achieved the use of spatial database information for good governance and socio-economic development.
Navigation difficulties have always been a critical issue challenging Rescue teams in Ghana in times of accidents at homes, roads or other forms of emergencies.
The digital address system has enabled the police service to access addresses and deal effectively with crimes quickly. Health providers, fire and ambulance services can promptly identify incident locations to save lives faster. All these benefits are for the ordinary Ghanaian.
It has also improved government operations by facilitating the decentralisation of government services.
The addressing system has created a database of businesses for a more improved and systematic means of tax collection in business. The Registrar General department has made the digital address a prerequisite for business registration.
The registered company on the system means addresses can be located, which will reduce the risk for businesses to access loans, reduce the cost of doing business and invariably create job opportunities for Ghanaians. It has provided the added value of enabling citizens to locate service providers by searching on the app effortlessly.
The digital address was an essential requirement for the registration of citizens and residents for the National Identification Project, another critical process of formalising the economy. The national ID cards with facial, iris and biometric identification have uniquely identified every individual, a foreigner or indigenous Ghanaian.
Hundreds of jobs have been created through eCommerce, an aspect of the economy that is highly driven by the digital address. Ghana Post GPS drives Ecommerce, improves delivery business, makes identification easy for financial transactions, reduces risks to financing business etc. It is one of the unwritten rules of a modern economy.
Now the name of the waakye seller can rest when one is given directions. The roasted plantain seller can generate her digital address, open a bank account and access loan facilities. Same as many other startups. No matter where you are, once you are within Ghana, you have a unique digital address. Even in the middle of river Oti, Jack, where are you………Just a click away.
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