Find Computing and Office Supplies expertise in Ghana

Ghana has experienced strong growth in the IT sector, with new companies focusing on IT services continually emerging and subsequently increasing competition in the industry. There are numerous computer supplies businesses and the country was one of the first African nations to liberalise its IT sector in the 1990s. The PC penetration rate in the country stands at five personal computers (2004) per 1,000 people. It has an average of 54 internet users for every 1,000 people.

Ghana has a number of software development companies and hardware suppliers, largely based in the capital of Accra. Some major companies include OSTEC, a leading IT infrastructure services provider, Bizliteracy Solutions and Internet Ghana Ltd. Microsoft operates in Ghana, but runs its services through a regional office based in Nigeria. IBM has a physical presence in Accra. Such companies offer services such as IT strategy, business consulting and asset recovery.

The Ghana Association of Software and IT Services Companies (GASSCOM) is the main trade association for the IT software and services industry, representing those working in software development, software services, IT-enabled/BPO services and e-commerce. It was established in order to facilitate business and trade in software and services, encourage government and other public sector support and advance the industry as a strategic sector for the growth of the Ghanaian economy. The founding members of the organisation include some of the most prominent players in the ICT industry – Persol Systems Ltd, IPMC, Exzeed Company Ltd., Somuah Info Systems Ltd., Platinum Technologies Co. Ltd., ACS BPS Ghana Ltd., e.Services Africa Ltd., The Softribe Ltd., H.I.M Solutions Ltd. and Kofi Bentil.

Amongst these Softribe Ltd has frequently been hailed as the leading software developer in the country, claiming vast experience in design and implementation of computerised application systems. The BBC has described founder Herman Kojo Chinery-Hesse as Africa’s Bill Gates.

Ghana is ranked 94th out of 142 countries for the availability of latest technologies, according to the World Economic Forum’s ‘Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012’. Its score of 4.2 is 0.8 below the world mean, indicating that the latest technologies can be bought but are not widely available. Businesses in Ghana are also just under the world’s average for absorbing new technology into their company. Ghana is ranked 109th out of 142 countries with a score of 4.2 (the world’s mean average is 4.8, WEF 2011). The absorption of new technology is an important part of business development and innovation. In terms of how well the government fosters technological innovation, Ghana ranks 95th out of 142 countries (WEF, 2011). Its value of 3.3 is once more slightly under the world mean of 3.6 and means government support is relatively successful at fostering innovation in Ghana.