In an address at the official launch of the Business Outsourcing Services Association of Ghana (BOSAG), Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC), Reginald Yofi Grant emphasized the critical role of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector in Ghana’s economic development. The event, which gathered industry stakeholders, highlighted the potential for Ghana to become a leading hub for outsourcing services in West Africa.
Mr. Yofi Grant reflected on the historical context of BPO in Ghana, noting that while the industry has faced challenges, it has also shown promise. He recounted early attempts to attract major American tech companies to Ghana, underscoring the need for a supportive environment to foster growth in this sector.
“The very reasons why this industry did not go forward were because it was not fully embraced,” he stated, urging government officials and regulators to engage more actively with the industry.
He outlined several advantages that position Ghana favorably for BPO, including its strategic location, English-speaking population, and relatively high educational standards. “Ghana can easily boast as being the only country that can claim to be the center of the world,” he remarked, highlighting the country’s logistical advantages for reaching important markets globally.
The CEO also pointed to the burgeoning consumer market in Africa, with projections indicating significant growth in the coming years. He noted that with 60% of Ghana’s population under the age of 35, there is a vast potential for human capital to drive the next level of economic growth.
He also emphasized the importance of collaboration between the private sector and government to create an enabling environment for BPO to thrive. “We should tie down that partnership between the private sector and government,” he urged, emphasizing that decision-makers must understand the opportunities presented by the BPO sector.
Ghana’s Potential as a Business Process Outsourcing Hub Highlighted
In his presentation John Duti of the GBS Partnership Forum under Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, highlighted Ghana’s promising position as a future hub for business process outsourcing (BPO) in Africa, citing unique strengths and key challenges that need to be addressed.
Ghana’s strategic geographic location was a central theme in Mr. Duti’s address. Positioned as a central logistics hub, Ghana offers easy access to global markets, particularly across Europe and the Americas. Although it lacks direct market reach to Asia, this geographic advantage places Ghana at a pivotal crossroads in the business outsourcing world.
Adding to Ghana’s appeal is its language advantage. As an English-speaking country surrounded by Francophone neighbors, Ghana is well-positioned to serve as a bridge for BPO services across West Africa. “This linguistic advantage allows Ghana to communicate effectively with international clients and neighboring countries, enhancing its attractiveness as a BPO destination,” Mr. Duti stated.
Education standards in Ghana further bolster its potential in the BPO sector. With a skilled and educated workforce, Ghana’s talent pool is well-regarded across the continent. Mr. Duti highlighted how Ghana’s educational foundation enables it to provide quality outsourcing services, meeting the demands of a competitive global market.
Mr. Duti also noted Ghana’s growth in digitalization, with mobile transactions reaching about 150% of the country’s GDP. This digital economy growth signals a robust foundation for digital services, a vital component for a thriving BPO sector. However, he stressed that Ghana’s journey to becoming a BPO leader would require proactive government support. “For the BPO sector to grow, government engagement must be focused on creating an enabling environment that drives results,” he said, emphasizing that government action should prioritize tangible outcomes rather than mere effort.
While Ghana’s BPO potential is vast, challenges remain. Mr. Duti identified high operational costs, especially in areas such as space and power, as major hurdles. Addressing these cost barriers, he noted, would be essential to making Ghana more competitive in the global outsourcing landscape. Additionally, he underscored the importance of cultural perception, emphasizing the need to nurture Ghana’s reputation for quality communication and service.
He reiterating Ghana’s leading role in West Africa and the opportunity to tap into the larger African market, which is expected to grow considerably in the coming years. However, he noted that Ghana’s success in the BPO sector would depend on strategic government support and its ability to overcome operational challenges.
With its unique assets and strategic approach to development, Ghana is poised to become a competitive player in the global BPO sector, solidifying its role as an outsourcing destination for international markets.
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.
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.
Source: ghananewsonline.com.gh