Cloud Readiness and Digital Infrastructure Gaps in Ghana

Abstract

Cloud computing has become a critical driver of digital transformation in emerging economies, enabling organizations to scale ICT capabilities without substantial capital investment. Ghana has made notable progress in expanding mobile and broadband connectivity, yet significant gaps remain in the country’s overall cloud readiness. This paper provides a secondary-data assessment of Ghana’s digital infrastructure, policy environment, and market maturity to evaluate the conditions that enable or constrain cloud adoption. Drawing on real-world datasets from the National Communications Authority (NCA), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Bank, and recent academic studies, the analysis highlights a strong submarine cable footprint but persistent bottlenecks in last-mile connectivity, broadband affordability, and data centre capacity. While banks, telecom operators, and fintech firms increasingly use cloud services, adoption across public institutions and SMEs remains uneven due to infrastructural limitations, regulatory uncertainties, and skills shortages. Through a structured cloud readiness framework, the paper identifies Ghana’s major strengths and weaknesses and proposes policy measures to accelerate cloud adoption. The findings contribute to ongoing discussions on Africa’s digital transformation by offering a country-specific analysis that integrates technical, regulatory, and market perspectives.