Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 06 | Page 38

COUNTRY FOCUS COUNTRY FOCUS: GHANA Mobile and network connectivity driving Ghana ICT Large investments in continental, broadband and mobile connectivity are building a stable base for rapid growth of Ghana's ICT industry. G hana’s information and communication technology sector has progressed well over the past two decades. As one of the first countries to introduce widespread liberalisation in basic telecommunications services in 1994, Ghana took an important step forward in embracing the potential of competitive markets to generate growth and innovation in the sector. The Ministry of Communications and the National Communications Authority oversee activities in the sector. As an initiative to support emerging technologies, the Ministry of Communications is also encouraging and facilitating the establishment 38 INTELLIGENTCIO www.intelligentcio.com www.intelligentcio.com of a Science and Technology Park. Ghana has established the necessary legal and regulatory framework which guarantees the safety of investments in the ICT industry. The National Communications Authority, is also responsible for licensing and regulating businesses operating in the communications sub-sector. The Ministry is made up of various agencies that assist with the implementation of policies related to operational and regulatory framework. These include: National Information Technology Agency, Data Protection Commission, Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission, Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications and Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. There exists further the Ghana Association of Software and IT Services Companies or GASSCOM, launched in 2007, which is Ghana’s premier trade association for the IT software and services industry. Member companies are basically engaged in the business of software development, software services, IT-enabled BPO services and e-commerce. GASSCOM was set up to facilitate business and trade in software and services, to be a strong advocate in soliciting government and other public-sector support, and to encourage the advancement of the INTELLIGENTCIO 39