E-Taxing : GRA Completes E-VAT Piloting, Reports GH¢124 million Increase In Revenue!
Ghana's digital ecosystem week in review: The Kolanut, Stanchart’s Cohort 4 Women In Tech Incubator Programme, 3i Africa Summit in Accra, Telecel collaborates with Infinix, Mowblox Awarded $14,000....
Photo Credit : Powersoftsystem.com
Accra Digital Digest No. #111011
Date: May 6 - May 12 2024
Dear Friends,
Happy new week!🎉
Here are the most important news, perspectives, analysis, and insights about the Ghanaian digital ecosystem from last week.
Digital governance
News updates
E-VAT Rollout On Track, Pilot Phase Complete
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has provided an update on the implementation of the Electronic Value Added Tax (E-VAT) system, stating that a highly successful E-VAT pilot has been completed with 50 taxpayers which saw VAT revenue grow by over 58%. The second phase is scheduled to target the onboarding of medium and small taxpayers by the end of December 2024.
Find out more about the E-VAT system here
Ghana To Become Africa's First Blockchain-Powered Government - Bawumia
Blockchain technology is often described as revolutionary across various sectors, including politics on a global scale. This technology can detect and record any alterations in digital data, providing a transparent and traceable record of transactions within the realm of governance. Ghana's Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, at the 14th Regional Conference and Annual General Meeting of Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa, in Accra has said that the next phase of Ghana's digitization initiative is to establish itself as the first blockchain-powered government in Africa, to combat corruption.
Digital infrastructure and platforms
News updates
MainOne submarine cable repairs complete: Internet services restored
Following an outage that disrupted internet services such as banking and telecommunication services in some West African countries including Ghana and Nigeria since March 14, 2024, MainOne, a leading provider of undersea fiber optic internet connectivity, has announced the successful completion of repairs to its submarine cable.
Telecel Ghana collaborates with Infinix to offer exclusive internet deals with NOTE 40 Series launch
Telecel Ghana has teamed up with Infinix to launch the revolutionary Infinix NOTE 40 Series, to boost mobile technology accessibility and consumer internet package options in Ghana. Each purchase of the Infinix NOTE 40 series comes with an exclusive 30GB data bundle from Telecel, allocated as 5GB monthly for six months.
Love reading African Stories ? Check out THE KOLANUT!
The Kolanut is a digital library dedicated to preserving, honoring and celebrating the rich oral traditions and life experiences of African Elders. The kola nut, a symbol of respect, togetherness, and hospitality, serves as the inspiration for the Kolanut, which aims to create a bridge between generations by sharing the stories that have shaped our communities.
The Kolanut is curating a digital library to house the stories of our African Elders, and you can also submit a story to be published!
Digital finance
News updates
Telecel Cash now available as payment option on Google Play in Ghana
Telecel Mobile Financial Services Ltd, operators of Telecel Cash, in partnership with Cellulant, a leading technology company, has announced the availability of Telecel Cash as a convenient payment method for Google Play users in Ghana enabling Telecel Cash customers to seamlessly purchase apps and services directly from Google Play, enhancing their digital experience.
All Set For 3i Africa Summit In Accra
Come May 13 – 15, 2024, Accra will host practically the world at the maiden 3i Africa Summit to explore and promote active collaboration between diverse stakeholder groups in key areas, and continuously drive innovation momentum across Africa. Themed “Unleashing Africa’s FinTech and Digital Economic Potential”, the summit is being jointly organized by the Bank of Ghana and Development Bank, with Elevandi from the Monetary Authority of Singapore as their main collaborators.
Read more to find out some of the special features to look forward to at the summit……..
Digital entrepreneurship
News updates
Web3 Startup Mowblox Awarded $14,000 Community Grant From Stellar
The Stellar Community Fund has awarded a $14,000 award in XLM to Mowblox, a web3 startup based in Ghana, for its project DevTrak (Africa’s first gamified platform for developers to Learn, Build, and Earn real rewards on the Stellar network). Mowblox will be organizing a Beta Testing event later this month for developers to try their hands on the product and perform tasks on it.
20 Businesses Inducted Into Stanchart’s Cohort 4 Women In Tech Incubator Programme
Standard Chartered has inducted 20 new female start-ups into the fourth Cohort of the Standard Chartered Women in Tech incubator programme. The programme is implemented by Ashesi University’s Ghana Climate Innovation Centre and is dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs.
Six entrepreneurs will receive grant of USD 10,000 (equivalent in GHS) each at the culmination of the programme.
Digital talents
News updates
Ghanaians Benefit From AI Africa Stimulus Project
The African Diaspora Central Bank and the Vanuatu Trade Commission to Ghana, has launched the AI Africa project aimed at equipping Africans with the skills needed for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The project will provide $800M to train 5 million Africans in AI across multiple countries starting in Ghana on 13th May 2024.Additionally, 100,000 startups in Ghana are to receive a substantial boost through a stimulus package
Read more for details on registration and onboarding for this free training.
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Cheers! 🍻