Ghana Positions Itself as Preferred Outsourcing Hub at London Roundtable
Ghana made its case to the global business services industry this week, hosting a high-level executive roundtable in London to pitch the country as a competitive outsourcing and digital services destination for the United Kingdom and European markets.
The event, organised by the Business Outsourcing Services Association of Ghana in partnership with Ghana Digital Centres Limited and the Ghana High Commission at Belgrave Square, brought together senior government officials, global industry leaders and investors to examine the country’s readiness to scale its business process outsourcing sector.
Samuel Kasumu, founder and chief executive of Archeva Outsourcing and a former senior adviser to the UK Prime Minister, told attendees that Africa was increasingly powering global industries through talent, innovation and enterprise, and that Ghana was well positioned to become a major player in the global services economy.
The country’s pitch rests on several concrete advantages. More than 100,000 graduates enter Ghana’s workforce annually, and over 500,000 English-speaking professionals are available for BPO and digital services work. The country shares a time zone with the United Kingdom and possesses cultural affinities that make it a natural nearshore partner for British firms seeking to outsource customer service, technical support and back-office operations.
On the infrastructure side, Ghana now counts more than 44 million mobile subscriptions and approximately 30 million active data subscriptions. Investments in submarine fibre cables, terrestrial fibre networks and broadband infrastructure have significantly improved connectivity and reliability, according to Mavis Ampah Sintim-Misa, Board Chair of the National Communications Authority. She said the country’s digital capacity now supports large-scale outsourcing operations.
The government’s 24-Hour Economy Agenda features prominently in the strategy. Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, Deputy High Commissioner of Ghana to the UK, said the initiative was designed to maximise productivity, create jobs and expand exports, with global business services and BPO emerging as important pillars of economic transformation.
Samuel Nartey George, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, said Ghana was determined to become Africa’s leading outsourcing and digital services hub. He pointed to the country’s integration into the African Continental Free Trade Area, which provides access to approximately 1.5 billion consumers, as a further draw for investors looking at the continent’s long-term market potential.
Dzifa Gunu, chief executive of Ghana Digital Centres Limited, said the organisation had moved beyond promotion to implementation, serving as the government’s operational vehicle for infrastructure delivery, ecosystem development and investor support. Companies operating in Ghana were already expanding into higher-value, technology-driven operations including artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data analytics.
The London roundtable represents the latest in a series of moves by Ghana’s government and private sector to diversify the country’s export base beyond traditional commodities. With the BPO sector expected to play a pivotal role in the 24-Hour Economy, the stakes are high — not only for Ghana’s balance of payments, but for the employment prospects of a young and rapidly growing population.
Image Source: GHANA BUSINESS NEWS
