Ghana needs cloud, cognitive technology to grow – IBM Ghana Boss

Angela Kyerematen-Jimoh (AKJ) currently manages IBM Ghana as Country General Manager. The Graphic Business Editor, Mr Theophilus Yartey (GB), caught up with her for a chat on various technology issues, including IBM’s plans for Ghana

GB: I know IBM invented PCs, mainframes, typewriters and even the Points-of-Sale (PoS) and ATM technology, but that was a long time ago. So what does IBM really do now? 

AKJ: Yes, that’s true. IBM’s evolution is synonymous with the history of computing and technology. 

Currently, IBM is a strategic partner to our business clients around the world. We not only build and provide hardware and software solutions to companies and governments, we are also a leading strategic technology services provider to our clients, developing and providing business management and technology consulting, and technology management services. 

Because we have been around for so long, we have the institutional know-how and the capacity which is almost unrivalled to provide a holistic offering of technology solutions and support services to our partners and clients all over the world. 

In Ghana today, we are seeking to partner with current and potential clients to move them to the next level of technology utilisation so we are talking to our clients about advanced technology solutions such as cloud computing, analytics and data management and security. 

These new advanced solutions are what we refer to as IBM’s strategic apparatus. 

We believe these are the disruptive technologies that will enable our clientele to distinguish themselves in their respective business environments and set them apart from competition. 

GB: So, which of these technologies is IBM currently focused on in Ghana and who are your clients? 

AKJ: IBM is now actively part of Ghana’s technology story. Our clients and partners come from a broad spectrum of economic sectors ranging from the financial sectors to government, telecommunications, oil & gas and also civil society organisations and academic institutions. 

We also do a lot of technology advisory and consulting work in Ghana and so, we play a key role in how large companies and the government use technology to advance Ghana’s social and economic development agenda. 

GB: What should businesses and governments know about the big data phenomenon?

AKJ: Big data has begun to change everything. Data is driving the concepts and strategies behind the Internet of Things (IoT) which is bound to affect all industries. It is important for organisations in Ghana to know that the world is now moving into a new era of the cognitive computing environment, driven by data. 

So, data is becoming the new natural resource. I recall a colleague saying recently that data promises to be for the 21st century what steam power was for the 18th century. 

Right now, we have about one trillion connected objects and devices on the planet generating data. 

For any service industry, the use of data centres will help to better manage their data assets and transactions processing. So you know, management of critical service and technology delivery functions is also important. 

This is why IBM’s CAMSS toolkit, our integrated Cloud, Analytics & Big Data, Mobile, Security and Social computing services and solutions is extremely relevant for banks, non-bank financial institutions and other service industries operating in a fast growing, middle-income economy like ours. 

Ninety per cent of the top 100 banks worldwide also use IBM business or technology services to run their business. These banks depend on IBM to support their operations. So, I am happy to say that Ghanaian banks are already benefiting from IBM’s global track record. 

GB: You just mentioned cloud computing in relation to data. What is the response of businesses in Ghana and the government to this cloud and data management?

AKJ: Cloud computing is catching up in Ghana but I would say that cloud adoption is not happening fast enough. The desire and demand for cloud solution is huge and growing but many C-level executives still need more education and still need to be further convinced about the medium to long-term impact of adopting advanced technology solutions for their businesses. 

Increasingly, technology investment decisions now reside across the entire value chain of any business, and not just with the IT department. 

So, companies are still transitioning to this new management reality and because technology is always evolving, the learning curve is also constantly shifting. At IBM, we continue to help bridge this knowledge gap through our multi-disciplinary, cross industry studies and reports and thought leadership activities, which provide fresh insights and new perspectives on advanced technologies like cloud, data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), which we like to refer to as cognitive computing at IBM. 

GB: What makes IBM unique and how does the company manage competition in the industry, giving that you are relatively young in Ghana?

AKJ: We all know competition is part of everyday life. IBM competes well in Ghana today because our current and prospective clients know that we offer value for their money, and our enterprise solutions are tried and tested, coming from a global organisation that spends at least US$6 billion annually on technology research and development (R&D). 

This solid R&D foundation is second to none in the technology environment. IBM is an endless pipeline of innovation as evidenced by our technology patent leadership every year. 

IBM is doing well in Ghana. We have been here as a full-fledged subsidiary of IBM since 2010. We continue to grow our business portfolio, supporting our clients across many sectors of the economy, serving and transforming businesses and organisations in the finance, telecoms, manufacturing, academic, oil & gas and government sectors.  These sectors are key to Ghana today and IBM is a major provider of technology to all of them, in Africa and internationally. 

It is important for Ghana’s business leaders to know that almost every technology company today is finding a valid reason to collaborate with IBM simply because at the enterprise level, it has been acknowledged that IBM offers best-in-class technology and business management solutions. 

Apple, Twitter and Oracle are just three examples of global IT firms that collaborate with IBM to deliver world class enterprise solutions. 

So, you can see that IBM is well prepared to support businesses in Ghana, with this sort of global experience, helping big companies to thrive, compete and deliver value to their customers. 

GB: You were appointed country GM for Ghana a year ago. What has the experience been like so far?

AKJ: It has been an interesting journey. IBM is growing and one of the first things I told myself when I took over was that we needed to move the hub of our operations to a more convenient office location, which would accommodate our needs. 

I am happy that we have achieved this objective as we speak. In the area of business growth and expansion, we continue to support our clients and more are coming on board the IBM train. 

I have had great support from staff and our government and private sector clients. I have also learnt that everything is possible if you put your mind to it.

GB: Finally, what advice would you give to the government with regards to its development goals for the technology and business environment? 

AKJ: IBM is here to stay, to support Ghana’s technology environment and to partner the government and the private sector.