Ghana pitches London investors on becoming Africa’s premier digital outsourcing hub
The Business Outsourcing Services Association of Ghana (BOSAG), in partnership with Ghana Digital Centres Limited (GDCL) and the Ghana High Commission, has made a compelling case for the nation's emergence as a competitive hub for outsourcing and digital services, presenting its vision to a distinguished audience of global industry leaders and investors in London.
The High-Level Global Business Services Executive Roundtable, held at the Ghana High Commission in Belgrave Square, served as a strategic platform to reinforce Ghana's commitment to deepening economic ties with the United Kingdom. The dialogue built upon the momentum of the Ghana–UK Investment Summit held earlier in the week, showcasing a nation determined to transition from a commodity-based economy to one driven by industrialisation and services exports.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, the Deputy High Commissioner, underscored the pivotal role of the government's 24-Hour Economy Agenda in this transformation. He noted that this initiative is designed to maximise productivity, create sustainable employment, and position Global Business Services (GBS) and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) as key pillars for export growth. Mr. Quansah further highlighted Ghana's inherent advantages, including a shared time zone with the UK, strong English proficiency, and a cultural affinity that makes it an ideal nearshore destination for European markets.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP), outlined an ambitious strategy to establish Ghana as the undisputed leader in Africa's digital services landscape. He stressed that the country is moving decisively from "potential to execution," with digital services being positioned alongside traditional sectors like cocoa and gold as primary export drivers. The Minister pointed to Ghana's "strong fundamentals," including a robust pipeline of over 100,000 graduates entering the workforce annually and a pool of more than 500,000 English-proficient professionals, as a critical competitive edge.
The strategy is anchored on the digitalisation of public services, the productisation of exportable digital services, and deep integration into global markets through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which provides access to a market of approximately 1.5 billion people. Mr. George also highlighted the government's work with global technology giants like Huawei, MTN, Amazon Web Services, and Oracle to deliver specialised training programmes to boost digital skills among the youth.
A central theme of the roundtable was the operational readiness of Ghana's digital infrastructure. Dzifa Gunu, CEO of Ghana Digital Centres Limited, provided an execution-focused perspective, noting that the country has moved beyond mere promotion to implementation. GDCL serves as the government's operational vehicle for infrastructure delivery, ensuring that investors can move seamlessly from interest to operation . This was complemented by insights from Mavis Ampah Sintim-Misa, Board Chair of the National Communications Authority, who detailed Ghana's digital evolution. She highlighted the country's growth from limited connectivity in the early 2000s to over 44 million mobile subscriptions and approximately 30 million active data subscriptions today, supported by multiple submarine fibre cables and extensive terrestrial backbone networks that provide a resilient backbone for large-scale outsourcing operations.
The event's Industry Leaders Panel, moderated by Joel Walker of The Knowledge Group, provided practical insights into operating and scaling from Ghana. Panelists from global firms like Concentrix and Teleperformance affirmed that Ghana has evolved into a proven and scalable location, with the talent pool transitioning into higher-value, technology-driven services. They identified artificial intelligence as a key enabler of growth, supporting hybrid delivery models that combine human expertise with advanced technology . The panel further reinforced Ghana's advantages in flexibility, scalability, and cost competitiveness.
Providing a powerful testament to investor confidence, James Donovan, CEO of ADEC Innovations, shared that Ghana emerged as a strong candidate for the company's operations following a rigorous global evaluation process. He concluded that the nation represents both a compelling investment opportunity and a platform for long-term growth and impact.
The Roundtable concluded with BOSAG reaffirming its commitment to accelerating sector growth, attracting investment, and positioning Ghana as a preferred destination for global business services, marking a significant milestone in the country's journey toward becoming a globally competitive, scalable, and execution-ready outsourcing destination.