1. Country Action Plan
REPUBLIC OF GHANA

2. Strategic Agenda Value Proposition
 Stimulating growth and employment which hinges on a knowledge based economy.
 Focus Areas
 Develop IT/ITES industry (Business Process Outsourcing /Offshoring)
Ensuring efficient, effective and transparent Government service delivery

3. Goals
Create at least 40,000 jobs from the BPO industry within five years.
Generate close to US$ 1 billion from the BPO industry over a five year period (contributing approx. 2 % increase over current in GDP)

4. What it will take to get there
Enabling environment to attract investment in BPO/ITES (Policies , regulations and laws)
Pool of skills and talent for BPO/ITES
Rapid deployment of modern IT/BPO infrastructure
Promotion of Ghana as a destination for BPO/ITES industry investment.
Development of technology parks
Strengthening industry association (GASSCOM)

5. Key Action items Immediate (next 2 -3 months)
 Focus on skills development
Completion of BPO skills standards/curriculum guidelines
Standards/Curriculum Guidelines Validation
Training
Hiring of Training Consultant ( Content Development/Training of Trainers )
Launch of Training Grants Program
Launch of Challenge Fund

6. Medium term (next 6 -12 months)
Completion of Training Content / Train the trainers
 Accreditation of ToTs
Start Training of Learners / Agents Program
Approx learners to complete training

7. Long term (beyond 12 months)
Rapid deployment of modern IT/BPO infrastructure
Promotion of Ghana as a destination for BPO/ITES industry investment.
Development of technology parks
Strengthening industry association (GASSCOM)

8. Resource requirements
Financial
Support for start ups $50million
Human
Skills Development $50million
Infrastructure $200million
Total Projection $300million

9. Possible Funding Sources/Cost structure
Internal Government resources 20%
Private Industry 40%
External (including DPs) 40%

10. Business model/Collaborations
Private, Public, Partnership arrangements
Collaboration and Partnerships including:
Government, private sectors, training institutions, development partners
Potential partnerships and / or collaboration with India
Collaboration with India to be strengthened in ICT/ITES
Potential role for world Bank and other DPs
WB to lead in resource mobilization, country promotion

11. Institutional arrangements for implementation
GOG to prepare implementation plan of strategies for BPO/ITES
Collaborations between MOE and MOC and other relevant MDAs
Collaborate with the private sector industry such as GASSCOM

12. Capacity Building Continuous review of skill gaps analysis
Study visits to related and relevant countries and institutions (starting with Philippines)
Scholarship for courses
Train the Trainers
Support for training institutions

13. Communication Strategy
Stake holder dialogue
Awareness raising and sensitization internally
International promotion of BPO/ITES opportunities in Ghana
Networking and lobbying global industry players like Microsoft
Participation in international industry exhibitions and fairs
High level government advocacy to secure incentives
Benchmark with BPO countries eg Philippines, India, Mauritius
Active government and private sector websites

14. Risk Assessment
Ghana is a low risk country and has a B+ rating by ‘Standard and Poors ‘
Risk status in 2009, is expected to be an improvement on WB 2008 assessment
Protracted World Bank approval processes

15. Mitigation strategy
Deepen democracy /further empower private sector participation
Work with World Bank to speed up approval processes

16. Implementation monitoring arrangements
Various indicators being developed with stakeholders.
Progress will be measured according to fulfillment of the set goals.

17. YEDAASE !