Ghana’s ICT sector continues to play a key role in Ghana’s broader economic growth and is a sector that continues to expand despite the wider economy’s fiscal constraints and currency devaluation.  Industry experts estimate that the ICT sector in Ghana currently is valued at about $1 billion and may reach $5 billion by 2030.  

Several U.S. tech equipment, software, and services companies are present in the market or cover it from neighboring markets.  They include American Tower Corporation, Parallel Wireless, Tech Gulf, Google, Twitter, IBM, Oracle, Uber, Emergent Payments, Microsoft, EAI Information Systems, Cisco, and Oracle, among others.  American Tower Corporation, for example, is a major investor in telecom infrastructure.  In 2019, Google opened its first Artificial Intelligence laboratory in Africa in Ghana.  TechGulf is developing data centers and is creating one of several of Ghana’s tech startup hubs.   

Government Priorities: During the Covid pandemic, the Government of Ghana announced the Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalization of Enterprises Support Program, (the Ghana CARES Program) or ‘Obaatan Pa’. Phase two of CARES has a strong focus on digital-related policies and technologies.  It provides insight into the Government of Ghana’s approach to developing the ICT/digital economy in 2022 and 2023. 

• Government efforts in this area are focused on expediting implementation of Government digital initiatives such as the National ID, digital address systems, land records digitization, and Ghana.Gov and then consolidate them to improve productivity and service delivery.  
• The government seeks to digitize fiscal revenue collection, support a cashless society, and improve online education delivery.
• The government will seek to invest in the national fiber network backbone to expand and improve internet connectivity. Promoting increased digital literacy is another priority.
• Finally, the government seeks to support Ghanaian technology entrepreneurs to build tech hubs and to export IT-enabled services such as business process outsourcing (BPO).

Telecommunications: Ghana currently has four registered mobile operators:  MTN, Vodafone, Glo Ghana, and Airtel Tigo. South Africa-based MTN Ghana remains the market leader with more than 17 million subscribers, accounting for 57% of market share; Vodafone has 23% of market share.  The National Communications Authority estimates that, as of August 2021, mobile voice subscriptions reached 41.4 million, a 132% penetration rate.   

Digital Payments and Mobile Money: Mobile money is a payment service operated under the regulatory authority of the Bank of Ghana and is performed via a mobile device. Instead of paying with cash, check, or credit cards, a consumer can use their mobile device to pay for goods and services.  Ghana has the second-highest data penetration rate and fastest-growing mobile money market in sub–Saharan Africa which has greatly enhanced financial inclusion. Three out of four of the telecommunications companies in Ghana offer mobile payment services, with MTN having the largest market share.  Registered mobile money accounts reached 30 million, and mobile money transactions exceeded $36 billion.  In 2020, the total value of mobile money transactions exceeded the value of check transactions.

Following the passage of the Electronic Transfer Act 2022 in April (Act 1075), the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) implemented a 1.5% e-levy on mobile money electronic transfers on May 1, 2022.  See our Market Intelligence on Digital Payments for more information.

Regulatory Structure: The ICT sector is regulated by the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation.  The National Communications Authority is responsible for licensing and regulating all businesses operating in the communications sub-sector.  

Commercial Opportunities:

Below is a breakdown of the industry by sub-sectors according to industry participants and analysts:

1. Digital infrastructure, including data centers, fiberoptic cables, etc.: $400 million
2. Software (sales of software by companies like Oracle, IBM and SAP): $200 million
3. Cloud infrastructure: $15 million
4. Cybersecurity: $30 million
5. Fintech, Health-tech and Ed-tech: $115 million
6. Training and services: $150 million

Contact: U.S. Commercial Service Ghana Commercial Specialist Victoria Agbai at office.accra@trade.gov or +233 (0) 30 274 1184 for more information on this sector.