The Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations has partnered with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to strengthen efforts to receive and process Ghanaian citizens returning home following xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Although disaster relief and humanitarian response do not fall within its official mandate, the Ministry stepped in to provide technological support after learning of operational challenges faced by NADMO officials at the airport.
With support from the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), the Ministry supplied 10 laptops to frontline personnel to replace manual paper-based registration with digital screening and data integration systems.
The intervention is expected to speed up the processing of returnees and improve the efficiency of reception and resettlement operations.
Speaking on the initiative, the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, said government institutions must work together whenever the welfare of citizens is at stake.
”The government functions as a single unit when the welfare of Ghanaians is at stake. From time to time, if there is any other thing, we’ll work on it together. When citizens return home from distressing circumstances, every available resource must be leveraged to make their transition seamless,” he stated.
The Ministry noted that the digital support forms part of a wider national effort to ensure that Ghanaians returning from difficult circumstances receive the assistance they need.
It also commended the dedication of officials from NADMO and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who have been working under demanding conditions to safely repatriate and resettle affected citizens.
According to the Ministry, the deployment of the laptops demonstrates how inter-agency collaboration and the strategic use of technology can enhance government response during emergencies, even where such interventions fall outside the traditional responsibilities of a particular institution.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to supporting national emergency efforts through innovative digital solutions whenever the need arises, underscoring the importance of a coordinated government approach in safeguarding the welfare of Ghanaians.
