The GSMA has unveiled a
new report showing how strategic digital reforms could transform
Ghana’s economy at the GSMA’s Digital Africa Summit in Ghana 2025,
The report, Driving Digital Transformation of the Economy in Ghana, offerss an in-depth analysis of how mobile connectivity underpins progress across key sectors. while Ghana's mobile industry already contributes 8% of GDP (GHS 94billion), the findings highlights significant untapped potential: despite 99% 4G network coverage, a 62% usage gap persists - reffering to people who could access mobile internet but are not yet using it leaving millions still unconnected.
Sector-by-sector transformation
The study outlines how digital
adoption could reshape Ghana’s economy across key sectors.
In agriculture, digital tools such as precision farming and market
access platforms could add GHS 10.5 billion in value, creating 190,000
new jobs, and boost smallholder crop yields by 10-20%. In
manufacturing, the adoption of technologies like IoT and AI
could generate an additional GHS 15 billion, particularly in
gold and cocoa processing where Ghana has strong competitive advantages.
Government services also stand
to benefit significantly. The report estimates that improvement of
e-government in Ghana could raise GHS 5.8 billion in tax
revenues by reducing leakage and improving collection
efficiency – building on the success of mobile money-enabled
systems such as the LEAP social welfare programme.
Barriers and solutions
GSMA’s
research highlights several critical challenges holding
back Ghana’s digital progress. Device
affordability remains a major obstacle, with smartphones
equating to 27% of monthly GDP per capita and 76% of monthly GDP per capita for
the poorest 40% of the population. The report praises
recent reforms, such as the removal of the
e-levy, as important steps forward,
while calling for expanded public-private partnerships
to scale device financing initiatives like MTN’s
Design-to-Cost programme and Telecel’s microfinance schemes.
The analysis
also stresses the importance of infrastructure
investment, recommending a clear 5G spectrum roadmap and streamlined
rights-of-way processes to cut deployment costs. Such measures
would be particularly valuable in rural areas, where connectivity gaps
persist despite Ghana’s strong national coverage metrics.
“Ghana’s RESET agenda provides the
perfect framework for digital-led growth,” said Angela Wamola, Head of
Africa at GSMA. “Our report shows that by addressing specific
policy barriers – from spectrum allocation to device affordability – we can
connect millions more Ghanaians while positioning the country as West
Africa’s premier digital hub. The mobile industry stands ready to partner with
government in making this transformation a reality.”
The full report was
launched during GSMA’s Digital Africa Summit in Ghana
– a high-level event held at the Kempinski Hotel in
Accra. The report provides detailed policy recommendations and economic
modelling, showing how strategic reforms could expand mobile internet
adoption to 20.6 million unique users by 2029, up from 13.1
million today.
