The newly commissioned Ghana Card-enabled E-gate at Kotoka International Airport got off to a rocky start when it failed to open for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia during its inaugural use. The Vice President had to wait for a few minutes before the gate finally unlocked, allowing him to proceed ¹.
Ningo-Prampram MP Sam George didn't hesitate to mock Dr. Bawumia on Twitter, questioning the readiness of the system before its launch. He tweeted that the failure of the system proves that rushing to prove a point leads to a bad crash. George also wondered if the airport didn't carry out User Acceptance Testing on the system before allowing the Vice President to commission it.
The incident has sparked a lively debate on social media, with users weighing in on the efficiency of the E-gate system and the readiness of its deployment. While some supporters of the Vice President downplayed the issue, citing that minor glitches are common in the early stages of implementing new technology, others believe it's a sign of a bigger problem.
The Ghana Card-enabled E-gate system is part of a broader effort to digitize public services and position Ghana as a leader in digital transformation in Africa. Proponents believe the initiative will deliver substantial benefits once fully optimized.