Ghana and Amazon are exploring a potential partnership to expand broadband connectivity in Africa, following talks between President John Dramani Mahama and senior executives of the US technology company on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The talks form part of the government’s drive to attract more US investment and technology into Ghana, while expanding opportunities for skills development, business growth and job creation.
Following the meeting, David Zapolsky, Amazon’s Senior Vice President and Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer, described his engagement with President Mahama as “productive and highlighted Ghana’s potential role in Amazon’s efforts to expand broadband connectivity across Africa”.
Zapolsky, who oversees Amazon’s legal, policy, compliance and regulatory affairs, said the discussions provided an opportunity to explore Ghana’s potential contribution to efforts aimed at improving digital connectivity on the continent.
The potential partnership places broadband infrastructure among the areas where Ghana could attract participation from global technology companies as the government seeks to strengthen the country’s digital economy and expand access to technology.
The potential partnership could have implications beyond broadband expansion, with improved internet access creating opportunities for businesses and households to make greater use of digital services. Better connectivity in rural and underserved areas could also support e-commerce, digital payments, online education, financial services and technology-based businesses.
Improved connectivity could lower barriers to digital services, expand access to online markets and enable more enterprises to adopt cloud computing, digital payments and other technology-based tools. Small and medium-sized businesses, in particular, could gain access to a wider customer base and commercial opportunities beyond their immediate locations.
Speaking at a separate US-Ghana Presidential Roundtable, President Mahama called for stronger focus on “trade, investment, technology and strategic partnerships” in the next phase of relations between the two countries. The approach places private investment and technology at the centre of efforts to deepen economic ties and create new opportunities for Ghanaian businesses.
The Amazon discussions also align with Ghana’s ambition to strengthen its position as a digital and technology hub in West Africa. The country’s hosting of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat provides an additional strategic dimension, potentially offering international technology companies a base from which to access businesses and markets across the continent.
