Ghana, Morocco, and South Africa together accounted for more than half of sub-Saharan Africa’s exports of digitally delivered services, according to recent estimates from the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The WTO’s report, which analyzed trade data from 2022 to 2023, placed Ghana as the top African exporter of digital services, with exports valued at $6.2 billion in 2022, representing 19% of the regional market. The report projects a further rise in Ghana’s digital service exports for 2024, after a 30% growth in the previous year.
This growth is largely attributed to the government’s efforts to bolster the digital economy. While infrastructure across Africa remains uneven, substantial progress has been made, with nearly half of the continent benefiting from improved connectivity.
However, the report stresses that future growth in digital services will depend on policy and regulatory reforms. These reforms must focus on keeping digital communications affordable, equipping citizens with essential digital and entrepreneurial skills, and positioning businesses to seize new opportunities in the evolving digital economy.
