Government has mounted a strong defence concerning criticisms in relation to a $2.5 million GhanaPost GPS app deal with VOKACOM.
This follows series of disapprovals by some experts in the technology space that the application is not a novelty, contrary to what government is trying to make Ghanaians believe.
Speaking to Class FM on Wednesday, October 25, Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, denied allegations that government has been short-changed.
“I am not an IT person so I don’t know how much apps cost and how much apps don’t cost, but of course, I guess that in the bidding process, other companies must have put in bids and this [VOKACOM] must have been judged to be the lowest possible bid. So, it [GhanaPost GPS app] is fine,” he said.
It will be recalled that a Ghanaian researcher based in the United States of America, Kingsley Komla Elikem, has said that he feels sad for the situation in which Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia finds himself because he should not have approved the deal.
VOKACOM developed the app to be used for Ghana’s digital addressing system, but Mr Elikem argues the technology already existed on Google.
“There are examples in the United States, there are examples in the UK [so you say]. I’m going to study what has been done and add on to it, but when you want to be over exuberant by saying things that: ‘damn what the US has done, damn what the UK has done, and we are coming out with something new’, and especially when you are not informed in the area, then you are bringing up too many issues that you yourself will not be able to answer and here it is.
“Unfortunately, I pity Dr Bawumia because I genuinely feel that, maybe he absolutely has no idea about this field, and, so, when the guys came and pitched the idea to him he bought into it, but it is unfortunate because this is nothing new,” he said on Monday, October 23 in an interview with Moro Awudu on Class FM’s Executive Breakfast Show.
He added: “We didn’t need GhanaPost GPS. Ghana could have generated the numbers for free on Google. They could have added more to the existing apps available, and there was no reason to have given VOKACOM the same job to do.”
One of the lapses he pointed out was that the GhanaPost GPS app divides Ghana into grids of 5m x 5m, however, a plot of land in Ghana is usually 100ft x 70ft meaning a property on one plot of land will have more than one address.
Some other Information Technology (IT) experts who have reviewed the application available on various mobile operating systems have also given poor ratings of the app.
Below are steps on how to use the Ghana Post GPS
• You can use AsaaseGPS on your computer, phone, or tablet to search, explore, and find your way around Ghana.
• On your computer, open www.asaasegps.com, on your phone or tablet, use the AsaaseGPS app.
• Visit your App store to download the AsaaseGPS App for free from Google Play Store and Apple store for Android and IOS users respectively.
• Once the app is installed, follow the instructions to register, verify and confirm your login details.
• No payment is required to download or use the AsaaseGPS app.
How to verify your address
• Click on the menu button
• A menu will appear with a ‘Verify Your Address’ button
• Click on the button to verify your address
• A pop-up message will ask that you close or continue with the request.
How to generate your address
• Ensure your phones location button is turned on.
• Open the AsaaseGPS app and click on the button
• Your unique address will appear next to the Digital address, for example, Digital Address: GA-543-0125
• The first two alphabets represent the region and district. The 3-digit that comes after the first two alphabets is the postcode the last 4 digits represent the unique property address.
How to contact emergency services using the app
• Click on the emergency button
• Select the service you require i.e. Police Service, Fire Fighter Services or Ambulance Service.
• Type in additional information and click on the ‘Send Location’ button
Source: classfmonline.com
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And yet any time there is a reported corrupt act, they quickly rush to Kwaku Baako and the Daily Guide to do their "Dirty Work" for them by hammering on fake news just to divert attention. ***barred word*** People.
Oh Bawu !!! So upon all your self-acclaimed credentials in economic theories and achievements, the best you could do for Ghana is to supervise the naked robbing of Ghanaians? Infact, we are beginning to realise that your real motives in spilling blood, visiting mayhems on Ghanaians was to come and fill your pockets. "The ***barred word*** does not come except to steal, kill and destroy". Oh Bawu, Oh Bawu, Oh Bawu !!!!
Day light robbery on Ghanaians. Stealers, stealers stealers. Akronfo) ooooo. If this transaction had occurred under NDC in this present time, I believe transparency international would have been informed the day the transaction took place. But I blame the NDC here. Instead of the NDC putting its acts together and hold this corrupt administration in check, it seems to have rather turned the guns on itself and allowed the NPP to have a field's day and do whatever they want to do. How can you go to google play store; download an application into your system free of charge and charge the poor citizens over US$2.3 million? I can't simply think far. This transaction will go down in history as one of the most naked daylight robbery ever perpetuated on Ghanaians. Akronfo) ooooo.
In this world if you pretend to know everything that is how you will be cheated. Dr. Bawumia is too known, they were in hurry to lunch it so that they can politicized it. its a shame
That is the legitimate questions we should ask ourself. If any anonymous and faceless person, claims to be an IT person, why should we believe him? We dont have any profile of this person. Due process was followed as bids were opened. The contract was not sole sourced. Probably the hype by Dr. Bawumiah was too much.
wHEN YOU READ THIS '“I am not an IT person so I don’t know how much apps cost and how much apps don’t cost, but of course, I guess that in the bidding process, other companies must have put in bids and this [VOKACOM] must have been judged to be the lowest possible bid. So, it [GhanaPost GPS app] is fine,” he said. ' iT IS CLEAR THAT THESE GUYS ARE ***barred word***. yOU DONT HAVE AN IDEA OF HW MUCH APPS COST? sO WHO CONTRACTED THEM AND BASED ON WHAT? wHICH COMPANIES BIDDED? pOLITICIANS DONT LEARN
Was it sole sourced?
creating loot and share. continue. your cup will be full very soon. bully full people.