Ghana Concentrates on the Digital Economy

The past year has been a year of forward-looking initiatives for Ghana’s digital infrastructure. The use of mobile money, door-to-door delivery via courier services, and internet usage for business operations have increased significantly with about 77% of businesses increasing their use of digital marketing. The Government has adopted digitization as a key policy objective and has recently introduced a number of programmes designed to develop a more digitally accessible public sector and encourage transparency and efficiency, in order to drive growth in all aspects of the country’s economy.

Another story out of Ghana. Ghanaian agri-tech startup DigiExt is helping farm cooperatives grow via a variety of tech-based platforms and then assisting them in selling their produce to processing companies and export agencies. Launched in 2017, DigiExt helps farmers sell their produce, access credit, and provides low-cost and convenient ICT-enabled agricultural extension services. The company gathers data by satellites and drones, weather information, and soil sensors to disseminate relevant production information to smallholder farmers at the right time in a cost-effective manner. DigiExt services several farm cooperatives and organisations that support farmers, such as AFAP and the Peasant Farmers Association, helping their farmers with their day-to-day activities as well as getting their produce to market.  DigiExt raised a round of funding last year, and already has operations in both West and East Africa. It plans to expand into North and Southern Africa in time.