The Communication Minister-designate, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has revealed that the Covid-19 App launched by the Communications Ministry in 2020 to augment government's fight against the pandemic did not cost the government any money.
According to her, the Covid-App, which helped in tracing people who have come into contact with Covid-19-positive individuals was a contribution by a software development company as their way to support the Covid-19 fight.
"I have said so several times, the Covid App didn’t cost the exchequer, the consolidated fund, the Government of Ghana a pesewa. We didn’t pay anything for the Covid App.
"Certain public-spirited individuals extended all kinds of support to the government, and some companies also offered to put their expertise at the disposal of the government, which we gladly accepted, resulting in the creation of the Tracker app," she added.
She said this in response to a question posed by a Member of the Appointment's Committee when she appeared before the vetting committee on Monday.
The Covid-19 App according to the nominee has had low patronage since its introduction owing to the way it was "demonised".
"The noise generated about its launch and the way we demonized it led to a low patronage of the App," she stated.
Madam Owusu indicated that it will be helpful for Ghanaians to use the App to help in the fight against the pandemic.
In 2020, the Vice of President Ghana, Mahamudu Bawumia in collaboration with the Minister of Communications launched the Covid-19 App.
The App is designed to help government in identifying and tracing persons who have come into contact with persons infected with Covid-19.
The Covid-19 Tracker App is user friendly and free to download on devices using Android and iOS operating systems.
Madam Owusu further indicated that when given the nod she will work with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to facilitate the activeness of the Covid-19 App.
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