Ghana could inject an additional $3.4 billion into its economy by 2030 if it accelerates digital reforms, so says a new GSMA report released this week.
The findings that position Ghana as West Africa’s next digital powerhouse, detail how mobile connectivity and policy shifts could unlock growth across agriculture, manufacturing, and public services.
The GSMA report, Driving Digital Transformation of the Economy in Ghana, further reveals that while the mobile industry already contributes 8% of GDP (GHS 94 billion), a 62% usage gap persists despite near-universal 4G coverage. Angela Wamola, head of Africa, GSMA, said millions remain offline due to affordability barriers, leaving untapped economic potential on the table.
“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 the government in making this transformation a reality,” she said.
Wamola highlighted that sector-by-sector impact is striking and ripe to steer Ghana into a prosperous digital future. “In agriculture, digital platforms for market access and precision farming could create 190 000 new jobs and raise yields by up to 20%. Manufacturing could gain an extra $1.43 billion (GHS 15 billion), particularly in cocoa and gold processing, through the adoption of IoT and AI.
“In government, better e-services could generate $490 million (GHS 5.8 billion) in tax revenues by reducing leakages and boosting efficiency.”
The GSMA, however, warns that challenges remain, such as the fact that for the poorest Ghanaians smartphones cost 76% of monthly GDP per capita, a prohibitive barrier to adoption. While recent reforms such as the removal of the e-levy have been praised, the GSMA report calls for public-private device financing partnerships and a clear 5G spectrum roadmap to sustain progress.
Launched in Accra this week, the report emphasises that bridging Ghana’s digital divide could expand mobile internet adoption to 20.6 million users by 2029, up from 13.1 million today. “This shift would help secure the country’s place in Africa’s digital future,” said Wamola.
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