Chi unga, Michelle; Abudu, De ick; Lemma, Albe o
Resea ch Repo
Ad ancing A CFTA digi al ade implemen a ion in Ghana
ODI Repo
P o ided in Coope a ion wi h:
ODI Global, London
Sugges ed Ci a ion: Chi unga, Michelle; Abudu, De ick; Lemma, Albe o (2024) : Ad ancing A CFTA
digi al ade implemen a ion in Ghana, ODI Repo , O e seas De elopmen Ins i u e (ODI), London
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Ad ancing A CFTA digi al
ade implemen a ion in
Ghana
Michelle Chi unga, De ick Abudu and Albe o Lemma
Oc obe 2024
Suppo ing In es men and T ade in A ica (SITA)
Repo
ODI Repo
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This wo k is licensed unde CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
How o ci e: Chi unga, M., Abudu, D. and Lemma, A. (2024)
Ad ancing A CFTA digi al ade implemen a ion in Ghana. ODI
Repo . London: ODI (h ps://odi.o g/en/publica ions/ad ancing-a c a-
digi al- ade-implemen a ion-in-ghana)
ODI Repo
3
Acknowledgemen s
This epo was p epa ed unde he Suppo ing In es men and T ade
in A ica (SITA) P og amme, an ini ia i e unded by UK In e na ional
De elopmen om he UK go e nmen o suppo he nego ia ions
and implemen a ion o he A ican Con inen al F ee T ade A ea
(A CFTA). All iews p o ided a e hose o he au ho s and no he
esponsibili y o ODI, he A CFTA Sec e a ia o he UK Go e nmen .
The au ho s wan o exp ess hei app ecia ion o he commen s
ecei ed om D Ka ishma Banga. We would also like o hank
pa icipan s om he Minis y o T ade and Indus y, Ghana; Minis y
o Communica ions and Digi alisa ion, Ghana; he A CFTA
Sec e a ia ; and he p i a e sec o , who sha ed hei expe ise and
expe ience du ing he wo kshop ‘Assessing he A CFTA Digi al T ade
P o ocol: Implemen a ion and Impac on Ghana’.
Any e o s a e he esponsibili y o he au ho s.
Abou he au ho s
Michelle Chi unga is he Chie Execu i e o Global Policy House
(GPH)
De ick Abudu is a Senio Resea ch O ice a ODI.
Albe o Lemma is a Resea ch Fellow a ODI.
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Con en s
1 In oduc ion ................................................................................. 10
2 Ghana’s digi al economy ............................................................. 12
2.1 Digi al ade and e-comme ce ..................................................... 12
2.2 Ghana’s ICT sec o ..................................................................... 13
2.3 Digi al ade and he in ech landscape in Ghana ....................... 16
3 Re iew o exis ing policies, laws and egula ions go e ning digi al
ade ............................................................................................ 21
3.1 Laws and egula ions .................................................................. 21
3.2 Policies ........................................................................................ 25
3.3 Compa ison wi h o he coun ies ................................................. 25
3.4 Digi al ade challenges o Ghana: some exis ing gaps ............. 26
3.5 A eas o imp o emen o Ghana ............................................... 30
4 Ghana’s echnological in as uc u e and e-comme ce capabili ies
.................................................................................................... 31
4.1 Componen s and enable s o a digi al ade ecosys em ............. 32
4.2 Digi al paymen s .......................................................................... 35
4.3 Digi al iden i y .............................................................................. 35
4.4 Digi al echnologies ..................................................................... 37
4.5 Digi al pla o ms .......................................................................... 38
4.6 Digi al skills ................................................................................. 38
5 Pe cep ions and unde s andings o he A CFTA among
s akeholde s in Ghana ................................................................ 39
5.1 Expanding ma ke ho izons ......................................................... 39
5.2 E-comme ce as a g ow h d i e .................................................. 40
5.3 Digi al in as uc u e eadiness .................................................... 40
5.4 Knowledge gap and capaci y-building ......................................... 41
5.5 Regula o y cla i y and suppo .................................................... 41
5.6 Pe cep ions o he egula o y en i onmen ................................. 42
5.7 Addi ional bene i s o he A CFTA P o ocol ................................. 43
5.8 Awa eness o he A CFTA P o ocol ............................................ 43
5.9 Capaci y o handling digi al ade ............................................... 44
5.10 In ol emen in nego ia ions and p epa a ions ............................. 44
5.11 Policy and egula o y amewo k ................................................. 44
5.12 In as uc u e eadiness and challenges ..................................... 45
5.13 Ba ie s o digi al ade ................................................................ 45
5.14 Skilled labou and inno a ion policies ......................................... 46
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5.15 Collabo a ion o implemen a ion ................................................ 47
5.16 Suppo and capaci y-building ini ia i es ..................................... 47
6 Es ima ing he po en ial impac s o he P o ocol on Digi al T ade on
Ghana’s economy ....................................................................... 49
6.1 Es ima ing he po en ial impac s o inc eased digi al pene a ion on
Ghana’s economy ....................................................................... 51
6.2 Es ima ing he po en ial impac s o he A CFTA and inc eased
digi alisa ion o Ghana’s economy ......................................................... 52
7 Conclusions and Policy Recommenda ions ................................ 54
7.1 Conclusion .................................................................................. 54
7.2 Policy ecommenda ions ............................................................. 54
Re e ences .................................................................................................. 56
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Ac onyms
A CFTA A ican Con inen al F ee T ade A ea
CCPA Cali o nia Consume P i acy Ac
CERT Compu e Eme gency Response Team
CSA Cybe Secu i y Au ho i y
EEA Eu opean Economic A ea
ETA Elec onic T ansac ions Ac
EU Eu opean Union
FCDO UK Fo eign, Commonweal h & De elopmen O ice
GDP g oss domes ic p oduc
GDPR Gene al Da a P o ec ion Regula ion
GhIPSS Ghana In e bank Paymen Se lemen Sys ems
GPH Global Policy House
GST goods and se ices ax
ICT in o ma ion and communica ion echnology
IFC In e na ional Finance Co po a ion
ITC IT Conso ium
KYC Know You Cus ome
MSMEs mic o, small and medium en e p ises
NDPC Na ional Da a P o ec ion Commission
NITA Na ional IT Agency
PCSRC Pos al and Cou ie Se ices Regula o y Commission
PSSA Paymen Sys ems and Se ices Ac
SMEs small and medium en e p ises
UNCTAD Uni ed Na ions Con e ence on T ade and De elopmen
US Uni ed S a es
VAT alue-added ax
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Execu i e summa y
The A ican Con inen al F ee T ade A ea (A CFTA) Ag eemen
p omises o con ibu e o A ica’s economic de elopmen by
acili a ing g ea e in a-A ican ade and economic in eg a ion. The
digi al economy, a key d i e o his de elopmen , will be impe a i e
o ealise his objec i e. To his end, he A CFTA ecen ly leng hened
i s p o ocols o include he P o ocol on Digi al T ade. This p omising
ini ia i e seeks o inc ease A ica’s digi al economy and i s
con ibu ion o acili a ing in a- egional ade and in es men . As
could be he case o mos A ican coun ies, his P o ocol holds
signi ican po en ial o Ghana’s economy, o e ing new a enues o
g ow h and p ospe i y.
The pe o mance o Ghana’s digi al economy has been in an
expansion phase, e lec ing he coun y’s g owing capaci y and
po en ial o le e age he oppo uni ies om he A CFTA. The digi al
economy is al eady pa amoun o Ghana’s economic de elopmen ,
as he in o ma ion and communica ion echnology (ICT) sec o is a
g owing majo con ibu o o g oss domes ic p oduc (GDP). In 2022,
he alue o he ICT sec o s ood a $2.5 billion (in cons an 2015
alues), ep esen ing 4% o GDP. In addi ion, he sec o has been a
majo con ibu o o he coun y’s in e na ional in eg a ion, wi h
g ow h in digi ally deli e able se ices eaching $6.3 billion (in alue
e ms) in 2019.
The coun y’s in ech capaci y g ow h has also been a majo
con ibu o o he expansion o he digi al economy. The in ech
indus y, la gely domina ed by mobile money ansac ions, is one o
he as es -g owing ma ke s in he wo ld, and Ghana is now home o
o e 70 in ech companies (B igh , O eng, and Gyan 2020).
Ghana’s digi al economy g ow h is assessed o ha e been suppo ed
by go e nmen policies like he Ghana Digi al Agenda 2018 and he
Ghana Beyond Aid Cha e and S a egy 2019. These ini ia i es aim
o enhance he sec o ’s con ibu ion o na ional de elopmen and
equi e legal and egula o y amewo ks o ensu e digi al ansac ions
a e conduc ed sa ely, ai ly, and secu ely.
The coun y has legal and egula o y amewo ks o e-comme ce
and digi al ansac ions, including he Elec onic T ansac ions
Amendmen Ac 2012, he Elec onic Communica ions Ac 2008
(Da a P o ec ion Ac 2012), and, mo e ecen ly, he Cybe Secu i y
Ac 2020.
ODI Repo
8
None heless, i needs o do mo e o le e age oppo uni ies om he
A CFTA o expand he digi al economy's con ibu ion o i s economic
de elopmen , as he sec o s ill aces se e al challenges.
1 Regula o y complexi y: Rele an legal and egula o y
amewo ks a e bese wi h speci ic challenges ha weaken hei
abili y o c ea e a conduci e en i onmen o digi al ansac ions.
Fo example, he Elec onic T ansac ions Ac 's en o cemen and
implemen a ion a e weak.
2 Ha monisa ion o egula ions: The absence o comp ehensi e
da a p o ec ion legisla ion aligned wi h A ican and in e na ional
s anda ds poses signi ican challenges o use p i acy and
egula o y compliance.
3 Digi al di ide and inclusion: Di e ences in b oadband in e ne
a ailabili y and accessibili y, p o iciency in digi al skills and
in as uc u e exace ba e inequali ies ha can hinde pa icipa ion
in digi al comme ce. Speci ically on in e ne access, huge gaps
exis be ween he no he n (maximum 50% access) and he
middle and coas al a eas (50–90% access).
4 Digi al in as uc u e: The digi al in as uc u e landscape,
including da a cen es and cloud sys ems; physical ha dwa e;
including mobile de ices; compu ing acili ies; and o he In e ne
o Things ools, equi es mo e in es men . This will be c ucial o
inc easing in eg a ion in he digi al ecosys em, enabling Ghanaian
companies o scale and expand.
5 Use challenges: An analysis o esponses om p i a e
companies engaged in digi al economic ac i i ies shows ha he e
is limi ed awa eness o he P o ocol on Digi al T ade as well as
legal and egula o y amewo ks go e ning digi al ac i i ies and
usage o digi al pla o ms o oppo uni ies.
In esponse o he po en ial economic implica ions o he P o ocol
and he digi al ade challenges iden i ied in Ghana, ce ain measu es
can be adop ed o inc ease he economic bene i s o he P o ocol.
Wi hin hese, he Go e nmen o Ghana will need o o mula e a
Ghana Digi al T ade S a egy and Ac ion Plan o implemen a digi al
ade oadmap and execu e he P o ocol. To ensu e such a s a egy
helps he coun y ealise inc eased economic gains om digi al ade
ac i i ies, he a o e-men ioned challenges mus be ackled and he
digi al ade ecosys em imp o ed.
• D aw lessons om global bes p ac ices o de elop a
comp ehensi e e-comme ce and digi al ade ac and ha monise
exis ing digi al ade egula ions and policies wi h A ican
s anda ds.
• Conside implemen ing a obus da a p o ec ion and p i acy law
o p o ec use da a, enhance us in digi al paymen sys ems and
p o ec online use s.
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O e his pe iod, he alue o digi ally deli e able se ices, in US
dolla s, shows an o e all upwa d ajec o y despi e luc ua ions. This
indica es a g owing capaci y and po en ial o digi al se ice p o ision
in Ghana's economy. The peak in 2019 a app oxima ely $6,377
million e lec s a high poin in he sec o 's ou pu , ollowed by a
decline in 2020, likely linked o he COVID-19 pandemic's impac on
economic ac i i ies, e en hose ha a e digi ally based. The eco e y
in 2021 o $5,857 million sugges s a ebound, hough i has no
eached he p e ious peak, indica ing linge ing e ec s o he
pandemic o o he ma ke dynamics.
The sha e o digi ally deli e able se ices in o al ade in se ices
exhibi s no able a iabili y, which may indica e he e ol ing na u e o
Ghana's se ices sec o and i s ade pa e ns. The su ge o 75.21%
in 2020 may e lec inc eased eliance on digi al se ices du ing he
pandemic, when adi ional se ice deli e y aced es ic ions. The
subsequen all o 63.85% in 2021 could signal a eadjus men as
o he se ice sec o s eco e ed and he ma ke co ec ed i sel pos -
pandemic.
These insigh s align wi h he objec i es o he A CFTA P o ocol on
Digi al T ade, which aims o p omo e digi al ade as a means o
economic g ow h and de elopmen ac oss A ica. Ghana’s inc easing
ade in digi ally deli e able se ices sugges s he coun y is well-
posi ioned o bene i om he digi al ade oppo uni ies p esen ed by
he A CFTA.
I is c ucial o acknowledge ha while he digi ally deli e able
se ices ca ego y encompasses hose ha can be deli e ed emo ely
o e digi al ne wo ks, no all such se ices a e deli e ed digi ally in
in e na ional ade. The g aph does no dis inguish be ween po en ial
and ac ual digi al deli e y; he igu es ep esen a b oade capabili y
o digi al ade a he han i s ac ualisa ion.
The da a indica es ha Ghana's se ices sec o has he in as uc u e
and po en ial o deli e se ices digi ally, which is a s ong ounda ion
o u he digi alisa ion o he economy. The g ow h in he alue o
digi ally deli e able se ices sugges s a coun y inc easingly capable
o and likely engaging in digi al ade. Howe e , he ex en o digi ally
deli e ed se ices may be a subse o he o al epo ed. This
unde sco es he impo ance o di e en ia ing be ween digi al
po en ial and ac ual digi al ade lows in policy-making and analysis.
2.2.2 ICT wo ke s and p oduc i i y
Figu e 3 compa es he p oduc i i y le els o ICT sec o wo ke s wi h
he a e age wo ke p oduc i i y le el ac oss all sec o s. The
p oduc i i y a io compa ing ICT wo ke p oduc i i y wi h o al wo ke
p oduc i i y in Ghana saw a ema kable inc ease om 2015 o 2021.
In 2015, he a io s ood a app oxima ely 5.01, signi ying ha , on
a e age, ICT wo ke s we e i e imes mo e p oduc i e han hei
ODI Repo
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coun e pa s in o he sec o s. This a io saw consis en g ow h in
subsequen yea s, eaching abou 6.21 in 2016 and 6.48 in 2017,
indica ing an expanding p oduc i i y gap a ou ing ICT wo ke s. In
2021, he e was a signi ican leap in he p oduc i i y a io o a ound
13.25, meaning he p oduc i i y o ICT wo ke s was mo e han 13
imes ha o he a e age wo ke ac oss all sec o s.
Figu e 3 ICT wo ke s o al wo ke p oduc i i y (cons an
2015 $)
Sou ce: own delibe a ions using da a om Ghana S a is ical Se ice (applies o he ollowing
igu es unless o he wise indica ed).
This p onounced g ow h in p oduc i i y wi hin he ICT sec o
sugges s a ious con ibu ing ac o s, including apid echnological
ad ancemen s, high- alue ac i i ies p e alen in he ICT indus y,
enhanced skill de elopmen and educa ional oppo uni ies in ICT,
and subs an ial capi al in es men s in digi al in as uc u e. The
no able su ge in p oduc i i y in 2021 may e lec a conside able
digi al ans o ma ion ac oss Ghana's economy o a su ge in he ICT
sec o , possibly d i en by inno a ion and an upswing demand o
digi al se ices.
2.3 Digi al ade and he in ech landscape in Ghana
Ghana’s digi al ade and in ech landscape b oadly co e s he
banking and inancial se ices sec o and insu ance,
elecommunica ions, and non-bank inancial se ices. The le ying o
a ‘ in ech ax’ o 1.5% on digi al inancial se ices, known as an e-
le y, means Ghana has one o he s eepes ax a es in he egion. I
is epo ed ha Ghana’s in ech landscape is home o o e 70 in ech
(B igh , O eng, and Gyan 2020). This numbe is g owing apidly as
in as uc u e imp o emen s a e cons an ly being made.
Since 2021, Ghana has welcomed inancial echnologies ( in ech) a
an imp essi e a e. Spu ing his g ow h we e egula o y changes,
such as he Cen al Bank allowing non-bank ins i u ions (e.g., elcos)
o own and manage mobile ne wo k ope a ions.
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
2015 cons an $
ICT Wo ke P oduc i i y To al Wo ke P oduc i i y
ODI Repo
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Figu e 4 Fin ech use in Ghana
Sou ce: UNCTAD (2023)
Table 1 p esen s he op 10 ac i e playe s in he in ech ecosys em in
Ghana. This si s in line wi h he ambi ions o he P o ocol on Digi al
T ade o align egula ions o suppo mo e A ican in echs and
inno a i e i ms o b ing new business models.
Table 1 Top 10 ac i e in ech companies in Ghana
Fin ech
Desc ip ion o se ices
MTN Mobile
Money – Momo
MTN Mobile Money (popula ly called MTN Momo) is an
o shoo o MTN, one o Ghana’s la ges elecoms
ne wo ks. I p o ides consume s and businesses wi h
access o paymen s, e-comme ce, insu ance, lending
and emi ance se ices. MTN Momo is he mos widely
used mobile paymen app in Ghana, con olling abou
89.3% o mobile inancial se ices e enue in Ghana.
Zeepay – a
end-se e
Zeepay specialises in mobile money in e ope abili y and
in e na ional emi ance. I was he i s in ech company
in Ghana o be issued a Dedica ed Elec onic Money
Issue Licence by Bank o Ghana. Zeepay has been
ins umen al in acili a ing c oss-ne wo k money
ans e s and os e ing inancial connec i i y in Ghana
and ac oss pa s o A ica. I is he second-la ges
in ech app in e ms o mobile inancial se ices
e enue.
Hub el – a
in ech wi h e-
comme ce
se ices
Hub el is one o Ghana’s mos e sa ile in ech
companies. I p o ides mobile paymen , bulk SMS and
e-comme ce solu ions. I s poin -o -sale pla o m allows
businesses o accep mobile money, ca ds and QR
codes. Hub el empowe s nume ous small and medium
en e p ises (SMEs) in Ghana by digi ising hei paymen
p ocesses.
ODI Repo
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Fin ech
Desc ip ion o se ices
Exp esspay –
one o Ghana’s
p emie
in echs
Exp esspay p o ides elec onic paymen solu ions. I s
pla o m allows u ili y paymen s, in e ne subsc ip ions
and ai ime op-ups. Exp esspay combines a use -
iendly in e ace and an ex ensi e agen ne wo k,
making i a popula op ion o Ghanaians and expa s
seeking e icien paymen solu ions.
Kow i – he ‘all-
in-one’ app
Kow i, one o Ghana’s as es - ising all-inclusi e digi al
inancial apps, is a se ice om Se n Ghana Limi ed
( o me ly D eamO al Limi ed). I is a mul i-bouque o
inancial solu ions ha include sending and ecei ing
paymen s; buying ai ime; paying u ili y bills; and
managing, insu ing and p omo ing businesses.
Finance Plus –
ocused on
inancial
ins i u ions and
loans
managemen
Finance Plus, by Cube Robo ics, is a cus om so wa e-
building company wi h expe s who assis c edi unions,
u al banks and mic o inance ins i u ions in g owing wi h
specialised so wa e p o ide inancial se ices o
cus ome s.
GhanaPay – he
gian in he
oom
GhanaPay is a paymen app olled ou by Ghana
In e bank Paymen Se lemen Sys ems (GhIPSS), a
wholly owned subsidia y o Bank o Ghana manda ed o
implemen and manage in e ope able paymen sys em
in as uc u es o banks and nonbank inancial
ins i u ions.
Chango –
owa ds
c owd unding
Chango is a c owd unding pla o m olled ou by IT
Conso ium (ITC), one o Ghana’s la ges business- o-
business in ech companies. I is a mobile app made up
o bo h p i a e and public g oups ha b ings people
oge he based on ag eed e ms and condi ions o aise
unds. The app is used o dona e o a cause o p ojec
by c ea ing g oups and aising unds. ITC is es ablishing
i sel as one o A ica’s leading inancial se ices
echnology solu ions p o ide s.
Slydepay – one
o he many
i s s om
banks
Slydepay was c ea ed by D eamo al Limi ed and is
powe ed by S anbic Bank Ghana. Slydepay ( o me ly
iWalle ) is an all-in-one mobile app o mobile paymen s,
ai ime and in e ne da a pu chase. I is essen ially a
mobile walle ha allows cus ome s o pay bills, op up
mobile phones, make money ans e s and pay in-s o e
ia QR codes as well as online ia emails. I has an
op ion ha allows cus ome s o make paymen s a
e ails shops ia he app.
Payswi ch –
enabling
inancial
inclusion o
SMEs
Payswi ch is one o he ew in ech companies ha
allows businesses o accep paymen s ia mul iple
channels, such as mobile money, ca ds (Visa and
Mas e ca d) and o he online pla o ms. I combines
ca d managemen and issuing, digi al banking,
au oma ed a e collec ion, e-comme ce, agency banking
and o he ailo -made solu ions.
Sou ce: Global Policy House esea ch and analysis
The Bank o Ghana is he main egula o o he in ech indus y in
Ghana. I is manda ed ha banks and non- inancial ins i u ions
engaged in in ech in Ghana be licensed. I has se up he Fin ech
and Inno a ion O ice o o e see he in ech ma ke space in he
coun y. The e a e six ca ego ies o licences o in ech:
• Dedica ed Elec onic Money Issue Licence
• Paymen Se ice P o ide Scheme Licence
• Paymen Se ice P o ide – Enhanced Licence
ODI Repo
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• Paymen Se ice P o ide – Medium Licence
• Paymen Se ice P o ide – Medium
• Paymen Se ice P o ide – S anda d
• Paymen and Financial Technology Se ice P o ide Licence.
Ghana’s clea licencing s uc u e enables businesses o ha e cla i y
on compliance equi emen s i hey ope a e in one o he abo e
a eas. These licencing egimes will also need egula e iew o
e alua e hei sui abili y in an e e -changing digi al ade
en i onmen .
GhanaPay by he Ghana In e bank Paymen and Se lemen
Sys ems
Ghana In e bank Paymen and Se lemen Sys ems (GhIPSS) is a
subsidia y o he Bank o Ghana wi h he sole pu pose o ensu ing
paymen sys em in e ope abili y o os e he goal o inancial
inclusion in he coun y. This p og am has spea headed wo paymen
sys em in as uc u es: he Mobile Money In e ope abili y pla o m
and he GhIPSS Ins an Pay pla o m, which acili a e he ans e o
unds ac oss elecommunica ion ne wo ks and om mobile banking
pla o ms o mobile money ne wo ks.
In June 2022, GhIPSS launched he bank-wide GhanaPay mobile
walle o encou age he ise o he coun y’s cashless and inancially
inclusi e ecosys em. This clea ly symbolises he coun y's shi
owa ds digi al applica ions.
Regula o y sandbox paymen amewo k
To p omo e inno a ion and mi iga e isk in he dynamic digi al
inancial se ice ecosys em, he Bank o Ghana has es ablished a
egula o y sandbox as an impo an ool in de eloping a egula o y
amewo k suppo i e o esponsible inno a ions and nu u ing new
business models. This amewo k aims o enable small-scale li e
es ing o inno a i e inancial p oduc s, se ices and business
models by eligible inancial se ice p o ide s and s a -ups (ope a ing
unde a special exemp ion, allowance o o he limi ed, ime-bound
excep ion) in a con olled en i onmen unde he supe ision o he
Bank o Ghana. By his a angemen , inno a o s can empo a ily es
new ideas wi hou being subjec ed o he ull se o egula o y
equi emen s applicable ou side he sandbox while add essing use s’
and egula o s’ espec i e conce ns.
The egula o y sandbox has been open o a limi ed scope o
inno a ions and eme ging echnologies, such as new digi al
businesses no co e ed unde any egula ion, new and imma u e
digi al inancial se ices echnology, and inno a i e digi al inancial
p oduc s and se ices ha can po en ially sol e ecu ing inancial
challenges wi hin he coun y.
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The sandbox also seeks o p io i ise new inno a ions ha le e age
c owd unding p oduc s, emi ances, blockchain echnology,
elec onic Know You Cus ome (eKYC) pla o ms, egula o y
echnology, supe iso y echnology and digi al banking and inancial
se ices a ge ed a inancial inclusion o women. Ghana’s
egula o y sandbox is a good example o o he A ican coun ies.
Innolab Insu ech Accele a o P og amme
The Na ional Insu ance Commission has implemen ed he Innolab
Insu ech Accele a o P og amme o help g ow he coun y’s
insu ance echnology s a -ups while p omo ing inno a ions in he
insu ance indus y. This ini ia i e is hoped o inspi e in ech s a -ups
o di e si y hei p oduc o e ings and explo e o he a eas o
necessi y in he inancial se ice deli e y indus y.
Ghana Digi al and Se ices Paymen s Pla o m
This ini ia i e is pa o he ambi ion o digi ise he economy and
p omo e a cashless economy in line wi h he Digi al Ghana Agenda.
The Minis y o Communica ion and Digi alisa ion se i up in a bid o
p omo e a cen alised public sec o paymen pla o m. The digi al
paymen pla o m will also ensu e g ea e anspa ency in collec ing
axes and e enues. The pla o m will se e as a paymen sys em
hub o Ghana’s public sec o , including Ghana Immig a ion Se ice,
he Social Secu i y and Na ional Insu ance T us , Ghana Re enue
Au ho i y and he Passpo O ice.
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3 Re iew o exis ing
policies, laws and
egula ions go e ning
digi al ade
3.1 Laws and egula ions
The egula o y amewo k o e-comme ce and digi al ansac ions is
in place in Ghana, wi h laws o ensu e digi al ansac ions a e
conduc ed sa ely, ai ly and secu ely. These laws include he
Elec onic T ansac ions Ac (ETA) 2008, amended by he ETA
Amendmen Ac 2012; he Elec onic Communica ions Ac 2008;
Da a P o ec ion Ac 2012; and, mo e ecen ly, he Cybe Secu i y Ac
2020. This legal amewo k helps p o ec consume s by es ablishing
ules o da a p i acy, consume igh s and dispu e esolu ion; he
laws p omo e ai compe i ion, p e en aud and add ess issues
ela ed o in ellec ual p ope y and cybe secu i y.
3.1.1 Elec onic T ansac ions Ac 2008
The ETA 2008 p o ides o he egula ion o elec onic
communica ions and ela ed ansac ions. I is he p ima y law
egula ing e-comme ce ac i i ies, including online ma ke places. I
p o ides o he legal ecogni ion o elec onic ansac ions and
elec onic signa u es and se s ou he legal amewo k o e-
comme ce in Ghana. Unde i , elec onic ansac ions ha e he same
legal s anding as adi ional pape -based ansac ions. The Ac also
es ablishes ules o elec onic communica ion, da a p o ec ion and
he use o elec onic documen s in legal p oceedings.
The Ac de ines elec onic ansac ions as ansac ions h ough an
elec onic agen such as a compu e p og am o o he au oma ed
means (Sec ion 144). Since e-comme ce quali ies as an elec onic
ansac ion, he Ac will apply o businesses ha ma ke o sell goods
and se ices online. The law u he applies o he supply o goods i
he consume s a e in Ghana (Sec ion 53).
Business owne s conduc ing business online mus p o ide ce ain
in o ma ion o hei cus ome s. This in o ma ion includes he ull
name and legal s a us o he business, he physical add ess, he
phone and email con ac , membe ship o any egula o y body, a
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su icien desc ip ion o he main cha ac e is ics o p oduc s and
se ices, he o al p ice o p oduc s and se ices, and he manne o
paymen . The websi e mus also p o ide he e ms o ag eemen o
a ansac ion, he p i acy policy and how consume s can access a
comple e ansac ion eco d. Business owne s mus allow cus ome s
o e iew and co ec e o s and wi hd aw om a ansac ion be o e
concluding he pu chase. They should also use a paymen sys em
ha is su icien ly secu e in ela ion o accep ed echnological
s anda ds a ailable a he ime o he ansac ion (Sec ions 46–50).
Unde his law, all ope a o s o elec onic se ices mus apply o a
licence o ope a e online (Sec ion 38). Since Ghana is no a pa y o
in e na ional con en ions such as he Uni ed Na ions Con en ion on
he Use o Elec onic Communica ions in In e na ional Con ac s,
na ional con ac ules o c oss-bo de ansac ions de ia e om
in e na ionally s anda dised ules.
3.1.2 Elec onic Communica ions Ac 2008
This Ac p o ides o he egula ion o elec onic communica ions,
b oadcas ing, and he use o he elec o-magne ic spec um and o
ela ed ma e s. I allows he Na ional Communica ions Au ho i y o
egula e b oadcas ing o ganisa ions and hei se ices.
3.1.3 Cybe Secu i y Ac 2020
While digi al ade has many ad an ages, i also p esen s new
oppo uni ies o auds e s and scamme s o exploi unsuspec ing
consume s. The Cybe Secu i y Ac 2020 c ea ed he Cybe Secu i y
Au ho i y (CSA) o egula e cybe secu i y ac i i ies in Ghana,
p omo e he de elopmen o cybe secu i y in he coun y, and seek
he gene al p o ec ion o ci izens in cybe space.
Sec ion 41 es ablishes na ional and sec o al Compu e Eme gency
Response Teams (CERTs). Ins i u ions a e equi ed o epo
cybe secu i y inciden s o he ele an sec o al o na ional CERT
wi hin 24 hou s o de ec ing he inciden . Whe e cybe secu i y
se ices a e p o ided as pa o digi al ade ope a ions, Sec ion 49 o
he Ac equi es compliance wi h he licensing equi emen s se ou in
he Ac .
The Ac also p o ides ha he CSA shall es ablish mechanisms o
he acc edi a ion o cybe secu i y p o essionals and he ce i ica ion
o cybe secu i y p oduc s and echnology solu ions. The necessa y
acc edi a ions and ce i ica ions would apply o he employmen o
cybe secu i y p o essionals (Sec ion 57) o he use o cybe secu i y
p oduc s (Sec ion 58) in digi al ade ope a ions.
Digi al ade ope a ions ha in ol e in e ac ions wi h child en o he
handling o hei da a in oke p o isions on he p o ec ion o child en
online, such as Sec ion 62, p ohibi ing publishing images o mino s,
and Sec ion 82, unde which he CSA can o de a digi al pla o m o
ake down all images o ha na u e.
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3.1.4 Da a P o ec ion Ac 2012
The Da a P o ec ion Ac 2012 also applies o digi al ade, including
online ma ke places and e-comme ce businesses in Ghana. I is
designed o p o ec indi iduals' p i acy and pe sonal da a. I se s ou
ules and egula ions o indi iduals, o ganisa ions, and public bodies
o collec , p ocess, s o e, and disclose pe sonal in o ma ion. I seeks
o ensu e da a subjec s ha e con ol o e hei pe sonal in o ma ion.
The Ac es ablishes he Na ional Da a P o ec ion Commission
(NDPC) as he egula o y body esponsible o en o cing he ac 's
p o isions. Unde his Ac , non-compliance can esul in penal ies
such as ines, imp isonmen o bo h. The Ac empowe s he NDPC o
in es iga e and en o ce compliance.
Ins i u ions o businesses ha p ocess consume s’ da a (da a
con olle s) mus ensu e da a is p ocessed law ully and easonably
wi hou in inging he p i acy igh s o he da a subjec , among o he
hings (Sec ion 18(1)). The indi idual’s igh o p i acy has been
ensh ined unde A icle 18(2) o he 1992 Cons i u ion as a
undamen al human igh .
Fu he , a da a con olle canno p ocess a consume ’s da a wi hou
he p io consen o he indi idual who is he subjec o he pe sonal
da a. Ne e heless, he law allows excep ions whe e he pu pose o
p ocessing he da a is au ho ised by law, o p o ec he cus ome ’s
legi ima e in e es , necessa y o a con ac he cus ome is a pa y o
o o pu sue he legi ima e in e es o a da a con olle (Sec ion
20(1)).
Unless he law pe mi s, a consume in an e-comme ce ansac ion
can objec o he p ocessing o his o he da a (Sec ion 20(2)). A da a
con olle who p ocesses he da a o a o eign consume om a
o eign coun y mus ensu e he da a p ocessing complies wi h he
da a p o ec ion ules in ha coun y (Sec ion 41).
The law u he equi es da a con olle s o egis e wi h he NDPC.
A e egis a ion, he NDPC g an s a ce i ica e o egis a ion, which
is enewed e e y wo yea s. A da a con olle can apply o he
licence h ough he da a p o ec ion websi e. Depending on whe he
he applican is a small, medium, o la ge da a p ocesso , he da a
con olle mus pay he p esc ibed ees upon egis a ion.
Acco ding o Ghana's da a p o ec ion legisla ion, a da a con olle
can p ocess da a in Ghana bu mus i s egis e wi h he NDPC and
be g an ed pe mission o ca y ou local p ocessing.
3.1.5 Paymen Sys ems and Se ices Ac 2019
An impo an aspec o e-comme ce ansac ions is elec onic
paymen . E-comme ce can only h i e wi h a p ope paymen sys em
egime. In 2019 Ghana’s pa liamen in oduced he Paymen
Sys ems and Se ices Ac (PSSA) 2019. This aims o consolida e
and amend all laws ela ing o paymen sys ems and se ices and o
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egula e ins i u ions ha engage in paymen sys ems and elec onic
money business. The Bank o Ghana has supe iso y and egula o y
au ho i y in all ma e s ela ing o paymen , clea ing and se lemen
sys ems (Sec ion 3(1)).
A paymen se ice p o ide wi h a licence o au ho isa ion has he
powe o p o ide, among o he s, he ollowing se ices:
1 clea ing o paymen ins uc ions among inancial and non- inancial
ins i u ions
2 se ling o obliga ions a ising om he clea ing o paymen
ins uc ions
3 ans e o unds om one accoun o ano he using elec onic
means
4 acili a ion o in e -ope abili y o paymen sys ems and se ices
among paymen sys em p o ide s
5 p o ision o elec onic paymen sys ems o he unbanked and
unde -banked popula ion (e.g., mobile money)
6 issuing o elec onic paymen ins umen s
7 issuing p epaid ca ds, c edi ca ds, debi ca ds and simila media.
The law has p o ided sa egua ds o secu i y in paymen sys ems. A
se ice p o ide shall ha e an app op ia e and es ed echnology
sys em equipped wi h aud and moni o ing and de ec ion ools, a
alid hi d-pa y ce i ica ion om a epu able ce i ica ion au ho i y, a
sys em capable o in e ope a ing wi h o he paymen sys ems in he
coun y, and a cybe secu i y policy when applicable (Sec ion 20).
These ools a e necessa y o assu e accoun holde s ha he
pe sonal in o ma ion equi ed o paymen s is p o ec ed and ha hey
a e no suscep ible o aud and cybe a acks.
A paymen se ice p o ide mus ensu e ha only he accoun holde
au ho ises a ansac ion agains a cus ome 's accoun . A cus ome
subsc ibing o a paymen se ice like mobile money, a debi ca d o a
in ech app mus submi a o m o iden i ica ion as a cus ome due
diligence equi emen . The o ms o iden i ica ion pe mi ed a e a
na ional iden i ica ion ca d, a o e iden i ica ion ca d, a d i e ’s
licence, a passpo , a na ional heal h insu ance ca d, biome ics and
any o he iden i ica ion p esc ibed by he Bank o Ghana (Sec ion
35(1)).
Any ime he e is a ansac ion, he se ice p o ide mus no i y he
cus ome o his h ough elec onic means o a physical eceip . The
no ice mus a leas s a e he ansac ion amoun , he ansac ion
ype, he da e and ime o he ansac ion, a unique ansac ion
e e ence, he iden i ying de ails o he ecipien o sende and any
ees cha ged (Sec ion 20). A se ice p o ide mus implemen a
sys em wi h buil -in con ol mechanisms o a comple e audi ail
(Sec ion 34). They shall no engage in any ac i i y likely o esul in
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4 Ghana’s echnological
in as uc u e and e-
comme ce capabili ies
E-comme ce is playing a majo ole as a ca alys o g ow h in Ghana
and o he A ican economies. COVID-19 saw many coun ies,
including Ghana, shi o adop mo e e-comme ce ac i i ies. Young
en e p ises se up digi al pla o ms and ma ke places and we e
exposed o mo e egional ma ke s o sell hei goods and se ices
and build mo e pa ne ships and s a egic alliances while boos ing
hei e enue base. The e-comme ce eadiness s a us o Ghana has
been well documen ed in i s Uni ed Na ions Con e ence on T ade
and De elopmen (UNCTAD) e- eadiness epo . Figu e 5 highligh s
a ma u e le el o poli ical suppo and unde s anding o e-comme ce,
wi h he legal amewo k and he digi al paymen s a chi ec u e also
anked highly in he coun y.
Figu e 5 Needs and oppo uni ies o e-comme ce
de elopmen in Ghana
Sou ce: UNCTAD (2023)
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Figu e 6 T ading ac oss bo de s by coun y
Sou ce: Wo ld Bank (2020)
Figu e 6 highligh s in global ankings ha many A ican coun ies a e
s ill behind in c oss-bo de ade, wi h Ghana holding 158 h place.
The P o ocol on Digi al T ade could help change his by suppo ing
A ican coun ies wi h clea e ules on key a eas ha enable c oss-
bo de ade, including ee- lowing c oss-bo de da a ans e s,
in e ope able c oss-bo de digi al paymen sys ems, and iden i y
sys ems.
Al hough he Go e nmen o Ghana is wo king ha d o champion e-
comme ce and digi al ans o ma ion o include echnological
ad ancemen , he ollowing p oblems emain:
• lack o a comp ehensi e domes ic ib e backbone in as uc u e
• public ope a o s no able o each u al and poo e cus ome s
• b oadband is slow, al hough he mobile ma ke is g owing.
Rele an echnological in as uc u e has become indispensable o
any A ican coun y o aid de elopmen and alignmen wi h
in e na ional ends.
In addi ion, leade s' poli ical will and suppo o champion digi al
ans o ma ion and ade a e c i ical o achie ing a dynamic digi al
ecosys em ha le e ages sa e, secu e and obus echnological
in as uc u e. In Ghana, suppo o e he pas ew yea s has come
di ec ly om he coun y’s p esiden , a majo champion o digi isa ion
and digi al ans o ma ion ini ia i es o Ghana.
Ghana's exempla y Digi al P ope y Add ess Sys em
(GhanaPos GPS) uses digi al in as uc u e o gi e e e y p ope y a
unique iden i ie . This will aid wi h mo e e icien las -mile deli e y,
minimise c ime, and enable a sou ce o obus da a ha can be used
o u u e p edic i e analysis and eme gency esponse. This
impo an in as uc u e can suppo he ollou o a digi al ade
p og amme ha also eaches u al communi ies ha p e iously had
no o m o add ess sys em.
4.1 Componen s and enable s o a digi al ade
ecosys em
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4.1.1 Digi al in as uc u e
In o de o ully le e age Ghana's dynamic, g owing digi al ade
ecosys em, i is impo an o di ec mo e in es men owa ds digi al
in as uc u e, such as da a cen es and cloud sys ems, physical
ha dwa e, including mobile de ices, compu ing acili ies, and o he
In e ne o Things ools. This will help Ghanaian companies scale and
expand.
4.1.2 Connec i i y
Connec i i y o high-speed in e ne is ano he key elemen . The e a e
s ill gaps in u ban and u al connec i i y, leading o a digi al di ide
wi hin he coun y’s popula ion. As Figu e 7 shows, Ghana’s online
p esence inc eased om 8% in 2010 o 69% in 2021. Howe e , in
u ban a eas, in e ne a es inc eased om abou 13% o 80%,
compa ed wi h a mo e om 2% o 54% in u al a eas.
Figu e 7 In e ne use in Ghana
Sou ce: UNCTAD (2023)
Below, we sha e in e ne use by age, showing clea adop ion and use
mainly by people aged 15–40 and less so by olde gene a ions.
Figu e 8 Ghana, in e ne use by age g oup
Sou ce: UNCTAD (2023)
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Usage a ies by de ice: we see mo e use h ough sma phones, wi h
a a e o o e 60% o he popula ion. In e ne usage anges om 24%
in Mion, No heas Gonja and Ka a a o 92% in Tema Wes , Ayawaso
Wes and La Dade-Ko opo . Howe e , a es a e below 50% pe cen
in he no he n pa o he coun y. Ghana's middle and coas al
egions boas 50% and 92% usage a es.
Figu e 9 Ghana, in e ne use by de ice
Sou ce: UNCTAD (2023)
As he da a shows, young people o en ely hea ily on sma phones.
Fu he mo e, da a a o dabili y le els can be explo ed, and he
ma ke p icing o da a can be e ened ou by encou aging mo e
compe i ion in he ma ke place.
To deli e digi al ade and enable Ghana o mo e owa ds economic
ans o ma ion d i en by a ib an digi al economy, he ollowing mix
o inno a i e p inciples and models ou lined in he GPH Digi al T ade
F amewo k will lead o sus ainable g ow h o he coun y. The
di e si ica ion o p oduc and se ice o e ings, as well as he c ea ion
o a digi al ading en i onmen wi h secu i y, usabili y and
accessibili y, is key o ge ing esul s.
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Figu e 10 GPH digi al ade amewo k
4.2 Digi al paymen s
Ghana is a good example o he expansion o e-paymen s, wi h a
ange o new ac i e playe s en e ing he ma ke , including Zeepay
and MTN, among o he s. The PSSA 2019 came wi h clea e ules o
paymen ope a o s o abide by, which is a posi i e s ep o wa d o
Ghana. I is impe a i e ha sys ems a e in e ope able and enable
e icien se lemen s as ansac ions a e conduc ed.
Ghana has es ablished mechanisms o ensu e he coun y has a
dynamic digi al paymen s ecosys em, e iden om i s es ablishmen
o a ious schemes, including he Bank o Ghana egula o y
o e sigh o in echs, he Paymen s Sys em Council, and a g owing
FINTECH communi y wo king wi h o he inancial ins i u ions. As an
A CFTA membe s a e, Ghana can be an enable o digi al ade and
help suppo o he coun ies in es ablishing egula o y mechanisms
and bes p ac ices, wo king wi h o he coun ies o es ablish
s anda ds and inno a i e app oaches o digi al paymen s.
Al hough digi al paymen s a e helping b ing mo e people in o he
inancial ecosys em, many communi y membe s a e s ill caugh up in
he digi al di ide. Poo access o he in e ne o e en elec ici y
p e en s hem om connec ing and engaging in digi al ade.
4.3 Digi al iden i y
Digi al iden i y in Ghana is a undamen al elemen in conduc ing
digi al ade. Wi h he inc easing adop ion o mobile money se ices
such as MTN Mobile Money and Telecel Cash, ha ing a secu e and
eliable digi al iden i y is essen ial o conduc ing ansac ions online
sa ely and e icien ly. Digi al iden i ies in Ghana ypically consis o
some pe sonal in o ma ion in he o m o biome ic da a, na ional
iden i ica ion numbe s and phone numbe s linked o indi iduals'
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accoun s. This enables use s o au hen ica e hemsel es when
making digi al paymen s and helps e i y hei iden i ies o p e en
aud and ensu e accoun abili y.
The Na ional Iden i ica ion Au ho i y issues biome ic iden i ica ion
ca ds known as Ghana Ca ds. These se e as a unique iden i ie o
indi iduals in all in e ac ions wi h go e nmen agencies and p i a e
sec o en i ies. This ini ia i e aims o s eamline digi al paymen
p ocesses, enhance secu i y, educe aud and p omo e inancial
inclusion by p o iding indi iduals wi h a secu e and eliable o m o
iden i ica ion. By es ablishing a so e eign iden i y sys em o digi al
paymen s, Ghana is pa ing he way o mo e e icien and
anspa en inancial ansac ions ha bene i consume s and
businesses while ensu ing da a p o ec ion and p i acy igh s a e
upheld. This is a hugely impo an equi emen as we see he
in oduc ion o he P o ocol, which should pa e he way o A ican
membe s a es o wo k oge he o es ablish in e ope able digi al
iden i y sys ems go e ned by legal amewo ks ha p o ec da a and
common s anda ds se o implemen digi al iden i y policies.
Fu he , au hen ica ion and e i ica ion in digi al paymen s in Ghana
a e c ucial p ocesses ha ensu e he secu i y and eliabili y o
ansac ions. Au hen ica ion in ol es con i ming he iden i y o use s
h ough a ious me hods such as passwo ds, biome ics o okens o
p e en unau ho ised access o sensi i e in o ma ion. Ve i ica ion,
howe e , in ol es alida ing he accu acy and in eg i y o ansac ion
de ails be o e p ocessing paymen s. In Ghana, inancial ins i u ions
and paymen se ice p o ide s implemen s ingen au hen ica ion
and e i ica ion p o ocols o p o ec consume s om aud and cybe
h ea s. This includes wo- ac o au hen ica ion, enc yp ion
echnologies and eal- ime moni o ing sys ems o de ec suspicious
ac i i ies. By p io i ising au hen ica ion and e i ica ion in digi al
paymen s, Ghana aims o os e us in online ansac ions and
p omo e inancial inclusion by p o iding a secu e en i onmen o
indi iduals o easily conduc hei elec onic ansac ions. The
P o ocol should ein o ce he signi icance o laws suppo ing
elec onic au hen ica ion mechanisms ha coun ies ha e in place.
Case s udy: Launch o he na ional pe sonal iden i ica ion
sys em – he Ghana Ca d
The Ghana Ca d is manda o y, and o e 18 million people ha e
egis e ed o i . The ini ia i e has bene i ed he go e nmen and
o he sec o s in nume ous ways. This inno a i e iden i ica ion sys em
has s eamlined p ocesses o ci izens, p o iding hem wi h a secu e
way o e i y hei iden i y and access a ious se ices. By
cen alising pe sonal da a on o one ca d, he go e nmen can mo e
e icien ly manage eco ds and educe ins ances o aud o
duplica ion. Fu he mo e, he Ghana Ca d has p o en in aluable in
imp o ing secu i y measu es in heal hca e, inance and
anspo a ion sec o s. The ca d's inco po a ion o biome ic
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echnology ensu es accu acy and alidi y when e i ying indi iduals,
helping comba iden i y he and unau ho ised access. O e all, he
launch o he Ghana Ca d has e olu ionised how in o ma ion is
sha ed and u ilised ac oss mul iple sec o s, os e ing a mo e
o ganised, e icien and secu e en i onmen o ci izens and he
go e nmen .
As Ghana con inues o emb ace he digi al e olu ion in i s inancial
sec o , ha ing a obus digi al iden i y sys em will be key in os e ing
us and p omo ing inancial inclusion among i s popula ion.
4.4 Digi al echnologies
Digi al ade is being ans o med by a wa e o eme ging and
ad anced echnologies unde applica ion in c i ical a eas o he digi al
ade ecosys em. The eme gence o inno a i e solu ions u ilising
da a-d i en echnologies such as a i icial in elligence, blockchain,
he In e ne o Things, big da a, obo ics, d ones and eme ging
Quan um applica ions is p edic ed o play a big ole in digi al
ans o ma ion o many A ican coun ies, including Ghana.
In con ex , Ghana is b inging in applica ions using a i icial
in elligence and blockchain o help suppo supply chain e iciency
and anspa ency, which is leading o mo e p oduc i e ac i i y ac oss
digi al ade supply chains. D ones and 3D p in ing we e p e alen
du ing COVID-19, and hese applica ions a e being u ilised oday o
suppo las -mile deli e y and ha d- o- each communi ies in poo e
communi ies. Blockchain, in pa icula , can build us in digi ally
enabled ansac ions, helping au oma e p ocesses u ilising sma
con ac applica ions o e iciency and be e - alue ansac ions.
To ully le e age and bene i om hese echnologies, Ghana mus
boos capaci y and knowledge among he popula ion, wi h a s ong
ocus on you h and women. By p o iding educa ion and a es ing
en i onmen h ough sandboxes and na ional accele a o s, a pipeline
o skilled expe s can be de eloped o build solu ions ha can be
used o p oduce mo e business models a ound digi al ade. As an
example, young people in Ghana can p oduce digi al con en and
engage wi h his by u ilising, o example, i ual eali y and
augmen ed eali y applica ions powe ed by a i icial in elligence.
Al hough hese echnologies ha e he po en ial o ans o ma i e
change, he e a e isks associa ed wi h hei use, including biases
and ha m ul con en .
Wi h he P o ocol incoming, i is impe a i e ha A CFTA membe
s a es a e in posi ion o p o ide he igh egula ions and sa egua ds
o use s o hese echnologies, se ing clea ules and s anda ds ha
a e in e ope able o minimise and mi iga e po en ial isks.
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4.5 Digi al pla o ms
The wo ld has shi ed o a pla o m economy and a da a economy,
wi h businesses, especially SMEs, connec ing o his o ansac and
do business. As digi al ade g ows in A ica, digi al ma ke places and
ac i i y will expand, wi h Web 3 p o iding a ounda ion o mo e
imme si e ma ke places.
The eme gence and g ow h o digi al ma ke places in Ghana signi y a
pi o al shi in he coun y's economic landscape. These pla o ms
se e as ca alys s o inno a ion, connec i i y and economic
empowe men . By p o iding a i ual space o buye s and selle s o
connec , digi al ma ke places b eak down adi ional ba ie s o ade,
enabling businesses o all sizes o each wide audiences and ap
in o new ma ke s bo h domes ically and in e na ionally.
Mo eo e , hese pla o ms acili a e inancial inclusion by o e ing
con enien paymen solu ions and access o c edi , hus empowe ing
en ep eneu s and SMEs o pa icipa e mo e ac i ely in he digi al
economy. As Ghana con inues o emb ace digi alisa ion, he
impo ance o digi al ma ke places will only inc ease, d i ing
economic g ow h, os e ing en ep eneu ship and c ea ing
oppo uni ies o sus ainable de elopmen .
4.6 Digi al skills
An analysis o Ghana’s ecen na ional census da a by au ho s om
he Wo ld Bank shows ha in e ne use is much highe o pe sons
aged 15–29 (80%) and 30–40 (78%) (Dabalen and Mensah, 2023).
Howe e , he same s udy's indings e eal signi ican gaps in in e ne
use: usage is highe among weal hy households and pe sons wi h
o mal (seconda y o e ia y) educa ion. The go e nmen ecognises
he need o le e age he digi al economy o suppo you h’s
inc eased in ol emen in economic de elopmen . To his end, i is
wo king o build a wo k o ce wi h inc eased digi al skills o
accomplish i s goals in digi al ans o ma ion. Howe e ,
implemen a ion o digi al skills aining con inues o all sho . To ully
le e age he digi al economy, mo e de elopmen o digi al skills is
equi ed.
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5 Pe cep ions and
unde s andings o he
A CFTA among
s akeholde s in Ghana
Resea ch on pe cep ions and unde s andings o he A CFTA among
s akeholde s in Ghana is c ucial o assess i s e ec i eness and
iden i y a eas o imp o emen . We p esen he e a syn hesised
o e iew o s akeholde pe spec i es based on in e iews wi h
s akeholde s di ec ly,. In o al, he esponden s included o e 50
a endees o he wo kshop, 120 business and p i a e o icials (some
unable o espond due o in e ne ou ages in Ghana), and
go e nmen minis ies, whe e consul a ions we e made.
This esea ch, combined wi h ou analysis o he c i ical elemen s in a
dynamic Ghana digi al ade ecosys em, poin o a eas whe e Ghana
can ocus o enhance digi al ade and le e age he oppo uni ies
coming wi h he P o ocol and he A CFTA.
Below we p o ide ou analysis o pe cep ions and eedback ecei ed
in he pas wo weeks.
5.1 Expanding ma ke ho izons
While mos businesses (80%) cu en ly ade wi h o he A ican
coun ies (see Figu e 11), he e is a no able disc epancy in e-
comme ce adop ion ac oss di e en ma ke s. This sugges s a
po en ial un apped oppo uni y o businesses o le e age digi al
pla o ms o in a-A ican and global ade expansion.
The e is no single digi al ade pla o m ha is helping wi h in a-
A ican ade expansion cu en ly. This is because e e y digi al ade
pla o m is designed o domes ic needs and no o in a-A ican
ade pu poses. Jus as Eu ope and o he coun ies ha e pla o ms
o all-inclusi e ading, such as ea nings, bangles and o he
accesso ies o sale, pla o ms like hese will help MSMEs ade
hese goods online.
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Figu e 11 T ade wi h o he A ican coun ies
Sou ce: Au ho s using in o ma ion om in e iews wi h p i a e en e p ises in
Ghana (applies o he ollowing igu es unless o he wise indica ed)
5.2 E-comme ce as a g ow h d i e
The signi ican p opo ion o businesses (75%) conduc ing a
mode a e o high pe cen age o hei domes ic ade h ough e-
comme ce coun ies (see Figu e 12) unde sco es he g owing
impo ance o online channels in Ghana's business landscape. This
end signals a shi owa ds digi al i s s a egies and highligh s he
po en ial o u he g ow h in online comme ce domes ically. The
ocus should no only be on big indus ies o big companies ha ade
in a uckload o goods and se ices bu also on suppo ing MSMEs,
which ha e highligh ed he challenges a ound logis ics and inancing,
wi h a need o logis ics and las -mile deli e y imp o emen s.
Figu e 12 P opo ion o ade conduc ed h ough e-comme ce
5.3 Digi al in as uc u e eadiness
Only 40% o businesses ha e hei own e-comme ce websi e o
u ilise hi d-pa y pla o ms (see Figu e 13); his e lec s a need o
enhanced digi al in as uc u e o suppo online comme ce. This
unde sco es he impo ance o in es ing in digi al pla o ms and
echnologies o acili a e seamless online ansac ions and imp o e
business ma ke access.
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5.15 Collabo a ion o implemen a ion
All esponden s ecognise he need o collabo a e wi h o he public o
p i a e sec o playe s o implemen digi al economy policies,
emphasising he impo ance o mul i-s akeholde pa ne ships and
coo dina ion e o s (see Figu e 27).
Figu e 26 Collabo a ion o implemen he P o ocol
5.16 Suppo and capaci y-building ini ia i es
Despi e limi ed esou ces, a signi ican p opo ion (61.5%) o
esponden s ha e no hos ed sensi isa ion wo kshops wi h
businesses, especially SMEs. This highligh s an oppo uni y o
inc eased ou each and capaci y-building e o s o aise awa eness
and build capabili ies among businesses ega ding digi al ade
oppo uni ies and challenges (see Figu e 28).
Figu e 27 Sensi isa ion and capaci y-building
We summa ise in Table 6 o he eedback om bo h he p i a e and
public sec o s.
Table 5 P i a e and public sec o pe spec i es on he
A CFTA and he P o ocol on Digi al T ade
Go e nmen / egula o y bodies:
The Minis y o Communica ions and
Digi alisa ion and he Pos al and
Cou ie Se ices Regula o y
Commission (PCSRC) ha e shown
commi men o he A CFTA's
objec i es by launching he A CFTA
Hub. They pe cei e he A CFTA as
an oppo uni y o boos digi al ade,
p omo e e-comme ce and suppo he
g ow h o echnology and in ech
s a -ups and SMEs in Ghana.
Business communi y/p i a e sec o
and indus y g oups:
Ghanaian businesses, especially SMEs
and s a -ups, iew he A CFTA as a
ga eway o new ma ke s and
oppo uni ies ac oss A ica. The
digi ised assembly poin p o ided by he
A CFTA Hub could be seen as a
aluable pla o m o expanding hei
each, accessing ma ke insigh s and
os e ing compe i i eness.
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The iew o he A CFTA Hub is as a
s a egic ool o enhancing
anspa ency, acili a ing ade
inancing and comba ing audulen
ac i i ies in c oss-bo de ansac ions.
The equi emen o businesses o
ob ain A CFTA numbe s and common
ansac ion IDs e lec s a ocus on
ensu ing compliance and building
us among pa icipan s.
While he p ospec o eely expo ing
goods and se ices ac oss A ica is
appealing, businesses may also ha e
conce ns abou egula o y compliance
and he p ac icali ies o na iga ing
mul iple egis a ion equi emen s wi h
di e en agencies such as he Na ional
IT Agency, he Cybe secu i y Au ho i y
and he PCSRC.
These o ganisa ions likely ecognise he
A CFTA as a signi ican miles one o
egional economic in eg a ion and ade
acili a ion. They may suppo ini ia i es
like he A CFTA Hub as a means o
empowe businesses, enhance
e iciency in c oss-bo de ade and
capi alise on he con inen 's economic
po en ial. Howe e , hey may ad oca e
o s eamlined egis a ion p ocesses
and g ea e coo dina ion among
egula o y bodies o minimise
adminis a i e bu dens on businesses
and acili a e smoo he pa icipa ion in
he A CFTA.
Academia and ci il socie y:
Academics and ci il socie y
o ganisa ions may pe cei e he
A CFTA as a ca alys o
socioeconomic de elopmen and
po e y educ ion in Ghana and
ac oss A ica. They may emphasise
he impo ance o inclusi e policies
and capaci y-building ini ia i es o
ensu e ma ginalised g oups bene i
om he ade ag eemen .
They may also engage in esea ch
and ad ocacy e o s o assess he
impac o he A CFTA on a ious
sec o s o he economy, iden i y
po en ial challenges and ecommend
policy in e en ions o maximise i s
bene i s while add essing any
ad e se e ec s.
Consume s and he gene al public:
Consume s may ha e limi ed
awa eness o he A CFTA's speci ics bu
may indi ec ly bene i om inc eased
ma ke compe i ion, expanded p oduc
choices and po en ially lowe p ices
esul ing om ade libe alisa ion e o s.
The gene al public may ha e mixed
pe cep ions depending on hei
unde s anding o he Ag eemen 's
implica ions o job c ea ion, economic
g ow h and na ional so e eign y. E o s
o communica e he objec i es and
po en ial bene i s o he A CFTA o he
public may help build b oade suppo
and buy-in o he ini ia i e.
We ecommend as pa o a ulle e iew a comp ehensi e su ey o seek
mo e eedback om he a ious s akeholde s on he hu dles hey pe cei e
in ela ion o he implemen a ion and ollou o he P o ocol and he
A CFTA.
App op ia e ules and laws h ough he A CFTA P o ocol can be se wi h
A ica s a e pa ies wo king in collabo a ion o es ablish common
guidelines and s anda ds ha help boos digi al ade and A CFTA
implemen a ion.
Sou ce: GPH consul a ions, analysis and in e iews in Ghana
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6 Es ima ing he po en ial
impac s o he P o ocol
on Digi al T ade on
Ghana’s economy
As pa o he ongoing wo k o assess he impac o he Digi al T ade
p o ocol, SITA has de eloped a comp ehensi e me hodology o
es ima e he impac s o pa icipa ing in he p o ocol signa o y
economies (Lemma, 2024). This me hodology comp ises wo main
app oaches: di ec impac es ima ion and indi ec impac es ima ion.
1. Di ec Impac Es ima ion
Assessmen o Regional T ade Ag eemen (RTA) Bene i s: By
pa icipa ing in an RTA wi h e-comme ce p o isions, coun ies
can signi ican ly boos GDP, expo s, and employmen . S udies
show ha high-income coun ies see a 10.3% inc ease in expo s
wi h such ag eemen s, while eme ging economies expe ience a
16.9% inc ease (OECD, 2023). This leads o po en ial inc eases
in GDP pe capi a by app oxima ely 11.7% o 12.48% due o
highe expo olumes.
• Employmen Impac Analysis: By calcula ing he GDP
g ow h and applying he employmen - o-GDP a io, we
es ima e he po en ial inc ease in employmen . Fo
ins ance, wi h a baseline GDP and wo k o ce, a GDP
inc ease o 13.6% can ansla e o a ound 6.8 million
new jobs, demons a ing he di ec co ela ion be ween
economic g ow h and employmen .
2. Indi ec Impac Es ima ion:
• Digi al Pene a ion E ec s: Enhanced digi alisa ion,
measu ed by inc eased in e ne accessibili y, u he
boos s economic ou comes. A 10% inc ease in digi al
pene a ion can aise GDP by 0.02% o 0.3%, wi h
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signi ican po en ial o employmen g ow h and expo
enhancemen .
• Combined Impac Analysis: In eg a ing he di ec
impac s o he P o ocol wi h he indi ec e ec s o
inc eased digi al pene a ion esul s in a combined GDP
g ow h es ima e anging om 11.72% o 12.78%. This
syne gy be ween ade libe alisa ion and digi al
ad ancemen s unde sco es he comp ehensi e bene i s
o hese combined e o s.
3. To al Impac Syn hesis:
• The combined e ec s on ade, GDP, and employmen
illus a e he ans o ma i e po en ial o hese
me hodologies. Fo example, expo s could ise by
15.2% o 21.2%, leading o subs an ial economic and
social ad ancemen s.
While he de eloped me hodology p o ides a obus amewo k o
es ima ing he impac s o pa icipa ion in he P o ocol on Digi al T ade
and enhanced digi alisa ion, i has se e al limi a ions. Fi s ly, he
me hodology elies hea ily on p e ious es ima es o simila ade
p o ocols' impac s on o he egions, which may no ully cap u e
Ghana's unique economic con ex . Addi ionally, he absence o
speci ic sec o al da a limi s he p ecision o ou p ojec ions, po en ially
o e looking sec o -speci ic dynamics and a ia ions in impac .
The op imis ic assump ions ega ding expo and GDP g ow h may no
accoun o po en ial ba ie s o implemen a ion, such as in as uc u al
challenges, egula o y hu dles, and a ying le els o digi al adop ion
ac oss di e en egions. Mo eo e , he model assumes a di ec
p opo ionali y be ween GDP g ow h and employmen , wi hou
conside ing ac o s like p oduc i i y ad ancemen s, echnological
inno a ions, and sec o -speci ic economic shi s ha could signi ican ly
in luence employmen dynamics. These limi a ions highligh he need
o cau ious in e p e a ion o he esul s and he impo ance o
complemen ing his me hodology wi h de ailed, con ex -speci ic
analyses.
Resea ch indica es ha A ican coun ies could expe ience a
subs an ial inc ease in hei expo s, be ween 15% and 16.9%, by
adop ing an A CFTA p o ocol ha includes signi ican e-comme ce and
digi al ade conside a ions (OECD, 2023., Abendin & Duan, 2021.,
Bunje e al. 2022., We e, 2015).
Consequen ly, o each 1% inc ease in expo s, GDP pe capi a
le els a e likely o ise by app oxima ely 0.78%, ansla ing o an
inc ease in GDP pe capi a le els o be ween app oxima ely 11.7%
and 12.48%. These p ojec ions highligh wo key me ics: he
po en ial inc ease in GDP (and GDP pe capi a) and he inc ease in
he alue o o al expo s o A CFTA P o ocol signa o y coun ies.
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Analysing he ami ica ions o GDP g ow h on employmen le els
equi es a s uc u ed me hodology. The analysis begins by
calcula ing he GDP g ow h based on he p ojec ed inc ease,
ollowed by de e mining he employmen - o-GDP a io, which
measu es he e iciency o employmen ac oss he economy in
ela ion o GDP. This a io aids in p ojec ing he inc ease in
employmen esul ing om GDP g ow h. The o mula o his
calcula ion ac o s in exis ing GDP, he pe cen age inc ease and he
wo k o ce, p o iding a basis o es ima e po en ial employmen
oppo uni ies.
While his me hodological app oach p esumes a di ec p opo ionali y
be ween GDP g ow h and employmen expansion, i is impo an o
no e he limi a ions o his model. Fac o s such as p oduc i i y
ad ancemen s, echnological inno a ions and sec o -speci ic
economic shi s, which can signi ican ly in luence employmen
dynamics, a e no accoun ed o .
Despi e hese limi a ions, his amewo k o e s aluable insigh s o
policy-make s. I se es as a p elimina y guide in o mula ing
economic and labou policies aimed a maximising employmen
oppo uni ies in he wake o GDP inc eases, enabling he c a ing o
in o med s a egies ha le e age economic g ow h o enhance
g ow h, expo s and employmen p ospec s.
Using he mos ecen da a o Ghana – ha is, expo alue
($22,094,606,175), GDP ($68,003,831,000) and o al wo ke s
(11,637,427), i is possible o es ima e he po en ial impac s o Ghana
engaging wi h he AFCFTA P o ocol:
1 GDP inc ease: GDP could po en ially inc ease o be ween
app oxima ely $71.32 billion (low es ima e) and $71.74 billion
(high es ima e), conside ing he expec ed expo g ow h owing o
he AFCFTA P o ocol.
2 Expo inc ease: The alue o expo s could po en ially inc ease
o be ween app oxima ely $25.41 billion (low es ima e) and
$25.83 billion (high es ima e), in line wi h he p ojec ed expo
g ow h anges o 15% o 16.9%.
3 Employmen inc ease: The po en ial inc ease in employmen
could be be ween app oxima ely 567,154 (low es ima e) and
639,994 (high es ima e) addi ional wo ke s, using he
employmen - o-GDP a io me hod.
These igu es a e indica i e o he po en ial economic bene i s o
inc eased digi al ade unde he A CFTA P o ocol. I is impo an o
emembe ha hese calcula ions a e based on economic models
and assump ions and ha ac ual ou comes may di e as a esul o a
mul i ude o economic ac o s and eal-wo ld complexi ies.
6.1 Es ima ing he po en ial impac s o inc eased
digi al pene a ion on Ghana’s economy
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The o he side o he equa ion o Ghana’s pa icipa ion in he A CFTA
P o ocol is ha he coun y inc eases i s digi alisa ion a e – ha is,
he amoun o people who ha e egula access o he in e ne .
Inc eased pa icipa ion in he digi al economy is likely o ha e g ow h
impac s, which a e likely o posi i ely compound he e ec s o joining
a digi al ade egional ade ag eemen .
To es ima e he e ec o na ional-le el e o ms, we can use he digi al
pene a ion measu e, which is e ec i ely he pe cen age o people
who ha e access o he in e ne wi hin a coun y. Fu he , o es ima e
he impac s o a 10% inc ease in digi al pene a ion, we can e e o
a ious s udies ha ha e es ablished co ela ions be ween in e ne
and b oadband pene a ion and a ious economic indica o s.
These s udies posi ha a 1% inc ease in digi al pene a ion could
esul in an employmen inc ease ha a ies widely, om as li le as
0.04% o as much as 2.4%. The e ec o digi al pene a ion is
simila ly signi ican bu ends o ha e a b oade economic impac .
Speci ically, a 1% inc ease in digi al pene a ion may lead o an
inc ease in expo s anging om 0.2% o 4.3%, and in impo s by
abou 0.1% o 1%. Fu he mo e, his inc ease in digi al pene a ion is
also associa ed wi h an inc ease in GDP, which could ange om a
ma ginal 0.002% o a mo e subs an ial 0.3%.
Applying hese insigh s, a 10% inc ease in digi al pene a ion could
ha e a cascading e ec on he economy. Fo Ghana, whe e he
expo igu es o 2022 s and a app oxima ely $22 billion, he
inc ease in expo s esul ing om a 10% ise in digi al pene a ion
could po en ially boos expo s by $440 million o $946 million, using
he p o ided anges. Simila ly, he an icipa ed impac on GDP could
ange om a sligh $1.36 million o a no ewo hy $204 million
inc ease, while employmen could po en ially see an inc ease anging
om oughly 4,654 o 279,448 jobs, conside ing he o al numbe o
employed indi iduals is app oxima ely 11.6 million.
6.2 Es ima ing he po en ial impac s o he A CFTA
and inc eased digi alisa ion o Ghana’s economy
To combine he es ima ed impac s o Ghana signing he A CFTA
P o ocol wi h he e ec s o a 10% inc ease in digi al pene a ion,
p e iously es ima ed ou comes can be agg ega ed. Joining he
P o ocol is p ojec ed o inc ease expo s by 15% o 16.9%, which, in
u n, is an icipa ed o ele a e GDP by 11.7% o 12.48%. The
imp o emen in digi al connec i i y is expec ed o boos employmen ,
expo s, impo s and GDP based on he a ying impac s pe 1%
inc ease digi al pene a ion.
GDP could po en ially ise o be ween $71.32 billion and $71.74
billion as a esul o he P o ocol. Fu he mo e, a 10% inc ease in
digi al connec i i y could enhance GDP by an addi ional amoun
anging om $13.6 million o $204 million. Thus, he combined e ec
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on GDP could ange om an inc ease o app oxima ely $71.33 billion
o nea ly $71.94 billion.
Expo s may inc ease o be ween $25.41 billion and $25.83 billion.
Wi h he addi ional impac o inc eased digi al connec i i y, expo s
could g ow by an ex a $441 million o $948 million. This leads o a
combined inc ease in expo alue po en ially anging om abou
$25.85 billion o almos $26.78 billion.
The o al numbe o wo ke s in Ghana may ise by app oxima ely
567,154 o 639,994. A 10% inc ease in digi al connec i i y could
addi ionally aise employmen by app oxima ely 46,550 o 279,848
wo ke s. The e o e, he combined po en ial inc ease in employmen
could ange om oughly 613,704 o 919,842 wo ke s.
These combined e ec s highligh he mul iplica i e bene i s o policy
measu es aimed a bo h ade acili a ion and echnological
ad ancemen s, wi h he ca ea ha he ac ual esul s may a y as a
esul o a wide ange o economic, social and poli ical ac o s.
ODI Repo
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7 Conclusions and policy
ecommenda ions
7.1 Conclusion
The analysis e eals a nuanced landscape o oppo uni ies and
challenges o Ghanaian businesses in he con ex o he A CFTA
P o ocol on Digi al T ade. While he e is signi ican po en ial o
g ow h in digi al comme ce bo h domes ically and in e na ionally,
add essing knowledge gaps, enhancing digi al in as uc u e,
p o iding egula o y cla i y and os e ing s akeholde engagemen a e
c ucial s eps o unlock he ull bene i s o he P o ocol and d i e
sus ainable economic de elopmen in Ghana. Analysis o
ques ionnai e esponses om he public sec o e eals se e al key
ini ial signals and insigh s ela ed o he A CFTA P o ocol.
While he e is g owing awa eness o he impo ance o digi al ade
and inno a ion, signi ican gaps exis in awa eness, capaci y and
policy amewo ks. Add essing hese challenges will equi e
conce ed e o s om bo h public and p i a e sec o s akeholde s.
Mo e in es men s in he digi al in as uc u e, policy e o ms,
capaci y-building ini ia i es and collabo a i e pa ne ships a e
equi ed o ealise he ull po en ial o digi al ade o Ghana's
economic de elopmen .
O e all, while s akeholde s in Ghana may hold a ying pe spec i es
on he A CFTA, he e appea s o be gene al ecogni ion o i s
po en ial o d i e economic g ow h, p omo e in a-A ican ade and
os e echnological inno a ion. Con inued s akeholde engagemen ,
capaci y-building and policy e o ms will be essen ial o ha ness he
ull bene i s o he Ag eemen and add ess any challenges ha may
a ise along he way.
7.2 Policy ecommenda ions
I is ecommended ha a ull, comp ehensi e e iew be unde aken
o o mula e a Ghana digi al ade s a egy wi h an ac ion plan o
implemen a Ghana digi al ade oadmap and execu e he A CFTA
P o ocol.
By looking a bes p ac ices globally and adop ing he P o ocol,
Ghana can imp o e i s digi al ade ecosys em and add ess he
challenges we ha e ou lined abo e in se e al ways:
ODI Repo
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• De elop a comp ehensi e e-comme ce and digi al ade
ac . This ac would consolida e exis ing egula ions and p o ide a
clea legal amewo k o businesses.
• Implemen a obus da a p o ec ion and p i acy law o
sa egua d use da a and p omo e us in he digi al ma ke place.
Include cybe -p oo applica ions ha help p o ec da a and use s
online.
• Ha monise digi al ade egula ions wi h in e na ional
s anda ds. This would s eamline c oss-bo de ade and make
Ghana a mo e a ac i e des ina ion o digi al businesses.
• Ensu e policies o mula ed acili a e ee- lowing da a o enable
c oss-bo de da a exchange, which allows o mo e inno a i e
business models.
• Build capaci y o en o ce digi al ade egula ions and educa ion
on c i ical componen s o digi al ade including digi al
echnologies and any new o ms o eme ging
echnologies. Inc eased esou ces o egula o y bodies would
ensu e e ec i e implemen a ion o he legal amewo k.
• Inc ease in es men in obus digi al in as uc u e, digi al
pla o ms and paymen channels, in ech companies and digi al
upskilling p og ammes o enable he deli e y o digi al ade. This
can include apping in o new digi al inancing ins umen s and
digi al asse s ha come wi h app op ia e egula ions.
• Ensu e a compe i i e digi al ade ecosys em ha cen es
oppo uni ies o MSMEs and s a -ups, ailo ing suppo o
include unde ep esen ed g oups, including women and young
people.
By add essing hese challenges, implemen ing bes p ac ices and
making he imp o emen s ecommended abo e, Ghana can c ea e a
mo e obus and compe i i e digi al ade en i onmen .
By ackling he challenges ou lined ea lie , Ghana can os e an
enabling en i onmen o digi al ade and ha ness he po en ial o
eme gen echnology, including a i icial in elligence, o d i e
economic g ow h and de elopmen .
The coun y can be a pionee and leade in he ollou and
implemen a ion o he A CFTA P o ocol on Digi al T ade, which will
cen e women and you h o g ea e g ow h in Ghana.
ODI Repo
56
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