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Cloud computing, often referred to as simply “the cloud,” is the delivery of on-demand computing resources – everything from applications to data centres over the internet on a pay-for-use basis (Al-Hujran et al., 2018). In essence, cloud computing is the new form of data storage in the 21st century – used mostly by businesses from all sectors of which Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are of no exception (Jayeola et al., 2022). For instance, SMEs are a critical component of the Ghanaian economy, providing about 80 percent of employment opportunities and contributing about 70 percent to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Furthermore, SMEs account for approximately 92 percent of all businesses in Ghana (Quartey et al., 2017; Sasu, 2022).
In Ghana, businesses are increasingly relying on mobile cloud applications to serve their customers and clients (Edu, 2022). Additionally, governments and non-governmental organizations are recognizing the potential of cloud-based technologies to facilitate economic and social transformation, particularly in areas such as education, public health, and environmental sustainability (Abubakar, 2016; Liu et al., 2022). To remain competitive, enterprises must embrace and adopt innovative technologies and practices that enable them to deliver advanced products and services that meet the evolving demands of the market. Cloud services are particularly advantageous for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), as they enable these businesses to take advantage of the opportunities presented in a rapidly evolving and dynamic information and communication technology (ICT) environment (Assante et al., 2016; Al-Hujran et al., 2018).
Paradoxically, SMEs have little to no competitive advantage as compared to large-scale businesses due to the scarcity of resources and the inability or difficulty to acquire an expensive Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure (Abor & Quartey, 2010; Khayer et al., 2021). For this reason, SMEs are unable to fully compete on an acceptable level with large scale businesses. Cloud computing, a new technological paradigm, is therefore regarded as a panacea to assuaging this challenge (Easmon et al., 2019; Jayeola et al., 2022). Cloud computing provides simple, scalable as well as readily available technological solutions. Again, it grants SMEs access to similar technologies utilized by large businesses devoid of high costs and risks (Yeboah-Boateng & Essandoh, 2014; Khayer et al., 2021).
Previous cloud computing studies tend to focus on developed economies where there is a seeming formalized digital economic structure. This assertion is highlighted in the meta-analysis of cloud computing research in information systems by Senyo et al. (2018) where majority of the studies were conducted in developed economies. This gap is particularly apparent in sub-Saharan Africa and most developing economies. According to Yeboah-Boateng and Essandoh (2014) and Khayer et al. (2021), this is mainly attributable to cloud computing being in its early stages in developing economies. Extant studies (e.g., Abubakar, 2016; Al-Hujran et al., 2018; Khayer et al., 2021) also suggests for further research in cloud computing adoption by SMEs in emerging economies. Such a study is envisaged to provide insights from the developing economy perspective on how cloud computing is growing and how practitioners in SMEs and future entrepreneurs take advantage of the cloud and gain a more competitive advantage from it.