Independent or Freelance Mobile Application Development in Ghana: Unraveling Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to unravel the opportunities and challenges encountered by independent or freelance mobile application (App) developers in Ghana. The study employed a qualitative approach by organizing a focus group discussion among eight freelance mobile application developers and engaging them individually when needed. The analysis was done by drawing themes from the tape-recorded interviews. After the data analysis, it was discovered that the mobile application space in Ghana is male-dominated. Factors influencing independent mobile application development are monetary and intrinsic rewards, increasing demand for smartphones, gamification through mobile App development contests, access to free online resources, and government initiatives leveraging mobile applications to enhance governance and fight corruption. Comparatively, the challenges unearthed are the unregulated mobile App industry, the unpredictable nature of advancements in application development languages, and the global competitiveness of the application development space. This study outlines the research implications and recommendations for stakeholders. The originality of this study stems from the fact that it is one of the first studies on mobile application development from the freelance developers' perspective, which emanates from a developing economy context.