Top ranking apps in Ghana

The past few decades have been absolutely game-changing for the entire world. The way we lived for centuries was completely changed following the spread of digital technologies across the globe. Today, everyone owns a smartphone and other smart devices, such as smartwatches, television sets, and even smart coffee machines or fridges. The influence of technology on our daily lives is huge and it is only getting bigger each and every day. 

What we are witnessing now truly is a major technological transformation, driven by decades of innovation and novelty. There are more research universities and technological hubs working on digital solutions than ever before. The process of digital transformation is what really sets trends in the 21st century. Technology has become a sector that attracts millions of people around the world. 

The wave of mass and rapid digitalization has affected industries from some of the oldest to newly emerged ones. For instance, the financial industry has seen a massive change from the early 2000s. Today, practically all mainstream financial transactions happen through the web, in a matter of seconds. Every commercial bank offers a mobile or a web platform to its customers, providing efficient and convenient services. 

The entertainment industry is also almost completely dependent on technology and its advancements. Every type of entertainment from streaming services to games and literature are available for smartphones. Buying a physical book is quite a last century trend when one can easily purchase an online version for just a fraction of the original price. 

As a result of the increasing popularity of eBooks, a growing number of educational institutions have started refusing the use of physical books. On one hand, this makes the learning process more convenient for students while on the other hand, it helps in the fight against climate change by reducing the use of paper. 

The era of the internet in Ghana 

Just like all across the world, Ghana is also seeing a vast increase in the number of internet users. Smartphones are becoming mainstream in the country while companies are starting to target gadget owners and internet surfers. In general, the continent of Africa is considered a frontrunner when it comes to utilizing the full potential of digital technologies. Innovation in technology is particularly thriving as African startups managed to raise a whopping $1.34 billion in investments throughout 2019. 

Despite being one of the leading nations in the region, Ghana still falls behind in terms of internet penetration. Countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa show much better results Yet, the country is developing fast. So what are people in Ghana downloading on their smartphones? What apps are most popular in the country? 

Messaging apps

Messaging is an inseparable part of our daily lives in the 21st century. We no longer need to send pigeons to the other side of the city in order to have our message delivered. Instead, a countless number of messaging apps for different devices offer fast and convenient services. These apps are extremely popular everywhere around the world. However, their individual popularity differs from a country to another. For instance, Russia has its own messaging app that is not widely used elsewhere while Americans often prefer Snapchat over other options. 

In Ghana, the choice of people turns out to be WhatsApp. The app has over 1.6 billion users globally, making it one of the most popular of its kind. The app ranks first on the Android chart while being the fourth most popular iPhone application. 

Online gambling platforms 

The gambling industry has changed to its very core, becoming highly digitalized throughout the past decade. Online casinos now have bigger revenues than physical venues as a growing number of people prefer playing from home. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the number of players has skyrocketed all across the globe, including Ghana. 

There are no local gambling platforms in the country and that is why locals enjoy the services of foreign operators. Some of the Canadian companies have targeted western Africa in efforts to attract users from the region. More and more new online casinos from Canada appear on the market of Ghana, making it quite well-saturated. Canadian casinos have always been particularly interested in attracting overseas users amid the low domestic demand in the country. 

In the charts, many of the leading gambling platforms have recently started to appear. The pandemic has boosted the sector as an unprecedented number of people stay at home. No one knows if the popularity of online gambling will drop after the health emergency but for now, the picture remains optimistic.

Social media: Instagram 

Social media is driving the world with almost every major company present on different platforms. They are undoubtedly the best way to reach big audiences. Some of the leading social media platforms have billions of users, making them the greatest space for marketing and promotions. 

In Ghana, a skyrocketing number of people, particularly the youth are using social media networks. Instagram is of big popularity, ranking at the top of the list. Its rival Facebook is ahead, but this correlation is quite understandable. Facebook has space for more types of content including text, long videos, and events. On the other hand, Instagram is almost solely focused on photography and videography. 

Video conferencing: Zoom 

Not long ago, Skype was an absolutely legendary software. Hundreds of millions of people were astonished by the innovation of facetime calls through Skype in the early 2000s. However, years later, it has lost its glory to other, more advanced, and innovative apps. 

Zoom has been around for a few years. It offers great services for those who need video conferencing for different purposes. It supports calls with hundreds of people in it, offers virtual backgrounds and educational modes. 

In early 2020, due to the global health emergency and the high number of people staying at home, Zoom gained more popularity than ever before. It made international headlines and increased the number of users tenfold. It is now being used by some of the leading educational institutions and companies all around the world. 

Ghana is not an exception as Zoom made it to the top of the chart in May 2020. The app is gaining even more momentum each and every day as more people around the country see its benefits. It is worth noting that Skype is not even among the top 50 most popular apps in Ghana for this period.