Mrs Lagarde was speaking at the IMF-organised Conference on “The Future of Work in Sub-Saharan Africa” in Accra, Ghana.
She said that other sub-Saharan African countries must take advantage of the fourth Industrial Revolution, which is being fueled by technology.
She indicated further that African countries must resort to the application of technology to create jobs and solve their challenges because of the impending population explosion in Africa, which is expected to make the continent the most populous in the next 30 years.
The IMF boss praised Ghana’s Farmerline, which helps farmers to grow more and earn more on their produce, and Zipline in Rwanda, which uses the drone technology to complement the country’s health delivery system.
“Sub-Saharan Africa successfully harnesses new technologies and creates an emerging vibrant middle class. Right here in Ghana, is Farmerline, an innovative agrotech company. It is not only happening in Ghana, and it is not only happening in agriculture. Look for instance at Zipline in Rwanda, which uses drones to deliver blood and medical supplies to remote health facilities.”
Mrs Lagarde’s comment is coming at a time when the Minority in Ghana’s Parliament and some Ghanaians have opposed the government’s plan to employ similar drone technology to supply emergency medical supplies and blood to remote communities.
Hopefully, this international acknowledgment on the need to use technology to save lives even in remote areas should put to rest the arguments on the drone deal in Ghana.
