In a bold step to position Ghana as the destination of choice for business process outsourcing (BPO) in Africa, German Cooperation, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), and partners today officially launched the ‘Business Outsourcing Services Association of Ghana’ (BOSAG).
The launch of BOSAG plays a significant role in Ghana’s effort to tap into the global BPO and IT outsourcing (ITO) market, valued at around $1.01 trillion annually with a total workforce close to 43 million people across the globe (GBS World, 2023). With Africa burgeoning as the location of choice for BPO and ITO services for global organisations, Ghana, with its addressable talent pool of over 420,000 B2 English speakers, stable internet, real estate infrastructure, and reliable power supply, among others, has a competitive edge to becoming a premier outsourcing destination in Africa.
Speaking at the launch event dubbed the ‘GBS Partnership Forum,’ Mr. John Duti, on behalf of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, highlighted that the BPO sector has the potential to unlock Ghana’s economic transformation. “We are aware of how the Philippines, once heavily dependent on agriculture, has positioned itself into a global BPO powerhouse, employing over 1.3 million people in the process and generating approximately $30 billion annually. In Africa, Egypt and South Africa have taken the lead and are creating jobs for their youth. Ghana is equally in the position to do the same with the attention now on Africa”, said Mr. Duti, Team Leader, Invest for Jobs at GIZ.
The GBS Partnership Forum also highlighted the official handover of a 12-page document titled, “The GBS Action Plan” to the Government of Ghana through GIPC. The action plan, outlining how Ghana can leverage the potential of the sector to drive job creation and economic growth, was put together by industry stakeholders and facilitated by the German Cooperation.
In his remarks, Mr. Yofi Grant, CEO of GIPC, indicated that the launch of BOSAG and the unveiling of the GBS Action Plan align with the government’s vision to grow the digital sector and harness its potential to create jobs, foster innovation, and sustain economic development. Mr Grant further added that “The GIPC, in collaboration with key stakeholders like BOSAG and the German Cooperation, is committed to leveraging Ghana’s competitive advantages to attract global companies and position Ghana as the preferred destination for outsourcing services in Africa. We will work diligently to implement the recommendations outlined in the action plan and create a thriving BPO ecosystem in Ghana”.
On his part, Mr. Kojo Afedzi Hayford, Board Chairman of BOSAG, called actors in the BPO ecosystem, both service providers, key public sector players, and development agencies, to join the association so that it becomes the authoritative voice for the industry. Mr. Hayford stressed that “BOSAG will not only advance the interests of member companies through trade facilitation and showcase Ghana to global customers as a credible outsourcing destination but, most importantly, be a strong advocate that will partner with the government to create a supportive environment and fertile ground to accelerate the growth of the BPO and ITO industry in Ghana.”
The Global Business Services (GBS) Partnership Forum was organised by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH within the framework of Invest for Jobs, the brand of the Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition” of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The Forum signed off with an opportunity to network, build meaningful connections, and foster discussions on possible collaborations among stakeholders to advance Ghana’s BPO and ITO sector.