Global ICT solutions and service provider, Dimension Data has opened an office in Ghana to increase its presence in West Africa.

The Group has been operating in the West African market for a decade with an operation in Nigeria. Hitherto, it operated in Ghana through Internet Solutions Company.

"We're very excited to be expanding our African footprint. The market in West Africa is growing and Ghana is going to play a key role in our growth journey. We look forward to working closely with our clients and partners in Ghana and develop locally relevant solutions to help clients accelerate their business ambitions," said Glad Dibetso, Managing Director, West Africa at Dimension Data.

Speaking to JOY BUSINESS at the opening of the Ghana office, Rakesh Parbhoo, Executive for Emerging Markets at Dimension Data says internet penetration in the country has reached levels that make it important for the country to start reaping its benefits.

“There's a lot of research done around how internet penetration and internet capacity actually has an impact on GDP. This will bring new type of business, it will change the way institutions and companies do business with businesses, the way they do business with their customers, the way the government connects to its citizens.

“And already we're hearing stories about how everything that used to be difficult, getting passports and drivers licences will now be something you can do online from home without having to travel long distances to be able to go and spend time queuing to get these things. Internet banking is quite prevalent throughout the world, more and more that is happening on the mobile new technologies” he noted.

Dimension Data is a $5.8 billion global systems integration business that specializes in technology solutions and services for both local and multinational clients. The company founded in 1983 is a member of the NTT Group.  

Today, the Dimension Data group employs 37 permanent staff in Ghana and plans are to increase our system integration skills and expertise over the next 12 months, providing opportunities to young local talents.

According to the World Bank, information technology and the highly visible construction sector now account for half the country's national income. This is in addition to gold, cocoa and oil which continue to dominate Ghana's exports.

Oludare Ogunlade, Cisco's General Manager, West Africa said, “Dimension Data is a key strategic partner to Cisco globally. We've partnered with the Group for many years across many markets. We look forward to working with Dimension Data in Ghana and expanding our Global Alliance in yet another territory."

Otema Yirenkyi, Microsoft's Country Manager in Ghana said, “Microsoft has operated in the Ghanaian market through our partner ecosystem for over ten years. We see huge opportunity in this critical West African growth market and look forward to partnering with Dimension Data to help clients reach their full potential.”