Business Process Outsourcing in Ghana: The Bangalore of West Africa?

Ghana Cyber City is a technology cluster on a 36 acre technology park being built in Accra. It is setting the stage for work between SMEs to encourage outsourcing to come to Africa. According to Gartner, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) was a USD 128.8 billion market in 2005 and is forecasted at USD 191.3 billion market by 2010 with the offshore ICT industry growing at 21 per cent. Ghana´s BPO could create 37 000 jobs with revenues of USD 750 million over 5 years.

According to the AT Kearney´s Global Services Location Index, Ghana scored better than India and China in financial attractiveness in 2007 and had a similar business environment. The volume of talent pool is however half that of China and India. The government is seeking stronger training. Ghana is competitive in low-skill, low-margin areas such as transcription services, account activation, surveys and basic consumer care. Major Indian players are moving towards higher-value work such as transaction processing and analysis of consumer behaviour.

Source: Author.

Morocco's example


Jean-Philippe Stijns, co-author of the "Public Resource Mobilisation" study, highlights Morocco's practices while observing their taxation policies.

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