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
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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
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