The largest gathering of companies and professionals from electronic commerce websites, Telecoms, Banks, Internet service providers, Software Designers, solution providers in the mobile commerce, e-banking, online payment and IT security in the burgeoning e-commerce industry is scheduled to take place soon in Accra.

Under the theme, “Unleashing Ghana’s Online Potential”, the second Ghana eCommerce Expo and conference is a sequel to the maiden event held in 2013. This year, this important event will provide a unique platform for over 30 exhibitors, 100 conference delegates and nearly 2,000 exhibition visitors to share knowledge, learn from leading experts, update themselves with latest trends in e-commerce, build new business contacts offline, showcase latest technologies as well as network with major players in Ghana’s fast growing online business market.

According to Paul Asinor, who spoke in an interview on behalf of OML Africa, the organizers, he observed that the need for a high-profile expo and conference solely focusing on online trade is very timely as the increased penetration of the internet and affordable telecommunications such as cheaper data and airtime bundles as well as smartphones have opened a massive market of millions of potential customers and buyers which hitherto, might have been almost impossible, to any modern business.

“The changing demands of the modern consumer with a tablet or mobile phone in hand can no longer be underestimated. Today’s buyer is online, seeking goods and services to buy with convenience and less hassle as such today’s business must therefore repackage itself to be relevant to the modern buyer. Luckily, there has been a fast-growing use and emergence of online payment platforms and mobile money solutions which is gradually eliminating the use of cash and actually evolving Ghana into a cash-lite society, a key feature of e-commerce.”

The second Ghana eCommerce Expo and conference he explained is designed to help boost the growth of secure online trade. The exhibition will be a display of the latest technologies and solutions in e-commerce, mobile commerce, eBanking, IT Security, cutting-edge software and mobile applications that are currently available in the country. Conference delegates will share knowledge and best practice through keynotes, roundtables, product presentations and speed networking sessions with experts and leaders in the industry.

Some notable speakers at the conference scheduled to be held on the 10-11th of this month are Haris Broumidis (CEO, Vodafone Ghana); Prince Kofi Kludjeson (Executive Chairman, Alltel); Charles Brewer (CEO, Mara Xpress); Harsh Sarda (MD, Nielsen, Africa Vertical Markets); Albert Biga (CEO, Zoobashop) and Derek Appiah (Country Manager, Microsoft). Others are Sandra Kyerematen Abrokwa (Country Manager, Tonaton);Claire Staal (Country Manager, Jovago.com); Albert Antwi-Bosaiako,(CEO, eCrime Bureau);and Stephen Nana Osei-Boadi( Head, Digital Marketing, PZ Cussons Africa); and many other reputable experts.

Other speakers are Funlola Abe(Country Manager, Jumia Ghana); Saqib Nazir( CEO, Interpay); Agastee Khante (Country Manager, Ringier); Joseph Yaw Asumang (Country Manager, Oracle); Maximus Ametorgoh ( Founder, PopOut); Klenam Fiadzoe (Founder, Yougara); Alison Roadburg (iSpace);Luis Ruano(Global Cloud Computing); Delegates from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Germany and Spain are expected to attend.

The exhibition, which is free to attend will have on display various Ghanaian online solutions and products with an impressive list of exhibitors notably, Rack Africa, Spearhead Networks, Tisu.com.gh, Payspace, Teledata ICT, Bsystem, Pweb Systems,Link Africa Consultants, Store Foundry, News Ghana, Zoobashop, Jovago.com, SMS Gh, Smeam Global and BusinessGhana.com Others are Clydestone, Ghana Women in Business Online Directory, ExpressPay, BigRace Systems, Kaymu and many others.

Some special features at the exhibition are a raffle draw with fantastic prizes for visitors who only need a free ticket to enter and also a free “Internet Lounge”, sponsored by Zoobashop and powered by Teledata ICT where attendees will have unlimited wifi to browse the net for the duration of the event.