Kokomlemle: A rising Silicon Valley

By Fiifi NETTEY

Kokomlemle, once known for its lively entertainment and social scene, has evolved. From its storied past of night life at Tip-Toe Gardens and Lido to its role as a hub for passport acquisition and travel documents to enable people travel, Kokomlemle has always stood at the intersection of movement—whether of people, culture, or now, technology.

Today, a new wave of transformation is unfolding in this historic Accra suburb: Kokomlemle is becoming Ghana’s own Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley is a home to major technology companies like Apple, Google (Alphabet), Meta (Facebook), Intel and Cisco, as well as prestigious research institutions and the popular one is located in San Francisco. Saxenian, AnnaLee. (1996)

A typical repair station

Once considered a place to pass through, especially Tip-Toe Lane and its environs, Kokomlemle is now a destination—especially for technology enthusiasts, device users and digital entrepreneurs. The area has emerged as a one-stop shop for all things tech. From laptop repairs to mobile phone service, from accessories to intricate component-level fixes, Kokomlemle has built a reputation as the go-to hub for technology repair and support items.

At first glance, the scene may look very chaotic side by side, glass display cases crammed with cables, phone cases, motherboards and other accessories. But beneath the surface lies a coordinated chain of experts, each specialising in a particular niche of repair and service.

From screen replacements to software diagnostics and hardware configuration to soldering broken circuits, each task is executed with precision. There are over 300 small shops with close to over 800 personnel, both Ghanaians and foreigners, engaging in technology repairs and sales. The fascinating thing is that many of the personnel learnt on the job by going through an apprenticeship.

To understand how this technical value chain works, I spent time speaking with several professionals in the field. One of them is Anthony Fletcher, a soft-spoken but highly skilled technician who has carved a niche for himself as a laptop hinge repair specialist. “People often think all laptop repairs are the same,” Fletcher said, seated behind a cluttered workbench covered with screwdrivers, screens and tiny springs. “But when it comes to hinges, it’s a delicate operation. The hinge controls the opening and closing of the screen—it uses friction and sometimes spring mechanisms. If someone without experience attempts it, they could easily damage the device beyond repair.”

Fletcher explained that his expertise is just one link in a larger chain. “I have colleagues who focus only on replacing hard drives and upgrading memory,” he continued. “They know the specs of every model. Others specialise in screen replacements, some in keyboard fixes. Each of us has our role.” It will take close to a month to learn. You don’t need any qualifications to learn.

This chain-based model, where specialists handle different parts of the repair process, ensures that customers receive targeted expertise, leading to higher-quality service and better outcomes for their devices.

What makes Kokomlemle even more unique is how many young men are becoming experts in the tech space.

One young entrepreneur, who preferred to be identified simply as Kojo, runs a diagnostics booth that helps detect motherboard faults using specialised software. “I collaborate with hardware guys,” he explained. “Once I detect the problem, I pass the laptop to someone who can do the physical fix. That’s how we work together. It’s a network.”

Gerald Otu of Tech Savers Gh, specialises in hardware repairs—particularly chip-level repairs which involve working directly on the motherboard. This is a highly specialised field that not everyone can handle without the necessary knowledge or technical education. Gerald shared that he learnt the trade through an apprenticeship, and it took him about seven years to perfect his skills.

From our conversation, it was evident that he is an expert in motherboard diagnostics. In fact, during the short time I spent at his shop, about seven people came in with motherboard-related issues. Another technician, Kwame, emphasised that this is the core of hardware repair—and not something for the faint-hearted. He stressed that such work requires advanced diagnostic techniques, which only a few skilled individuals like Gerald can execute effectively.

Jude, a software specialist who focuses exclusively on Chrome devices, explained that these machines run on Google’s Chrome Operating System (Chrome OS). A Chrome device—often called a Chromebook—is a laptop or tablet designed primarily for Internet-based computing. It operates mainly through web-based applications via the Google Chrome browser and stores most files in the cloud using Google Drive. Jude specialises in handling these types of devices. During the interview, I noticed that most of the people who came in were experiencing issues related to Chrome machines.

Franklin Nettey, another tech professional with a degree in Information Technology and hardware repairs, told me that he handles full laptop repairs. However, he was quick to note that much of what they studied in school was theoretical, and the practical skills were mostly acquired on the job. He believes the young technicians around Kokomlemle are doing impressive work because they begin with hands-on apprenticeship from the start—a practical approach he considers very effective. With a few theoretical insights from formal education, he believes they could further enhance and perfect their skills.

Michael doesn’t own a shop, but he has strategically positioned himself in a spot where he can easily meet customers who have issues with their laptops. Acting as a middleman, he connects these customers to the right technicians who can fix their devices.

He describes his work as a means of survival and adds that he plans to start doing some of the repairs himself soon. Whenever he takes a laptop in for repair, he asks specific questions and learns how the problem is diagnosed and resolved. According to Michael, most laptop issues involve replacing faulty parts. Once you identify the problem, you simply replace the component — but the key, he says, is knowing how to handle the replacement process with great care.

With the government pushing its 24-hour economy policy, Kokomlemle offers a real-time model. Many of these shops operate late into the night, meeting the high demand for tech services. The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation could tap into this workforce—providing training, formal certifications and access to tools that would transform these informal experts into a professional IT force.

This would not only boost the local economy, but also position Ghana as a serious contender in the regional tech space.

As Ghana seeks to become a regional leader in technology and innovation, places like Kokomlemle show what is possible when grassroots expertise is supported and recognised. It may not have towering office buildings or world-famous start-ups, yet; but the spirit of ingenuity that defines Silicon Valley is alive and well in the heart of Accra.

>>>the writer is a media consultant

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