Country Action Plan REPUBLIC OF GHANA

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

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)

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)

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

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

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)

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

Possible Funding Sources/Cost structure Internal Government resources20% Private Industry40% External (including DPs)40%

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

YEDAASE !