‘Government is an impediment rather than an enabler’ – Bright Simons on digital platforms
Vice-President and head of Research at the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Bright Simons, warned that government can obstruct the digital opportunities ordinary Ghanaians rely on for work and income.
Bright Simons, Vice-President and head of Research at the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, cautioned that government policies can hinder rather than support digital opportunities for ordinary Ghanaians. At Joy News' Digital Economy Forum on AI and the Ghana Economy, Simons urged policymakers to remove barriers to digital platforms, rather than imposing licensing requirements that lack proper consideration.
He cited ride-hailing and e-commerce services as examples of platforms benefiting ordinary people. "I’m a big believer in the fact that when it comes to those kinds of things, typically the government is an impediment rather than an enabler," Simons stated. He noted that users had learned to navigate these platforms without formal instruction, as drivers and delivery workers developed the skills to use maps and location services.
"Nobody taught them how to use mapping services. Very few people tried to teach them how to do that. Somehow we figured out how to use mapping services, how to do geolocation and deliver food and the rest of it." Simons argued that this experience should inform government digital policy, emphasizing the importance of removing obstacles that prevent productive use of technology.
He opposed proposals to license Uber, Bolt, and other platforms, citing the burdensome obligations they would impose on local governments. Simons also cautioned against poorly considered rules, drawing attention to the public reaction to proposed licensing requirements for developers in Ghana. He extended his argument to content creation, stating that people have developed skills for using social media and building audiences without dedicated schools teaching them.
"Who builds schools to teach people how to use WhatsApp? Who builds schools to teach influencers how to do YouTube influencing?" Simons maintained that identifying regulatory obstacles was a practical contribution to improving people's lives, dismissing such interventions as mere theoretical discussions.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
