Ghana has unveiled a bold policy framework aimed at dismantling long-standing structural obstacles hindering youth and women from fully participating in the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Dubbed the National Business Agenda (NBA), the initiative places inclusion at the forefront of national economic development efforts. Spearheaded by the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs (GCYE) with support from the Investment Climate Reform Facility, the NBA sets out targeted reforms to promote fair access to opportunities, resources, and support systems for emerging entrepreneurs—especially women and young people.
Mr. Sherif Ghali, CEO of GCYE, said the agenda was built through a deeply consultative process involving over 100 entrepreneurs and 60 stakeholders across the country. “It reflects real-world struggles and real-world solutions,” he noted. “From financing to procurement equity, this is a blueprint rooted in the voices of young and women-led businesses.”
Among the priority areas identified in the NBA are:
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Access to affordable credit
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Gender equity in public procurement processes
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Stronger business incubation infrastructure
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Modernisation of outdated regulatory systems
Margaret Ansei, CEO of the Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA), welcomed the NBA as a turning point in inclusive enterprise development. “We now have a unified document that not only outlines problems but offers concrete actions,” she said. “Our focus will be on implementation, especially in marginalized and underserved regions where entrepreneurial energy is high but support is low.”
She emphasized the GEA’s commitment to driving the agenda forward, ensuring that no aspiring entrepreneur—particularly women and youth—is left behind.
Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, European Union Delegation, National Youth Authority, and National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme also pledged their support at the launch, signaling broad institutional backing for the agenda.
The NBA is expected to become a key reference point for policymaking and public-private dialogue around entrepreneurship in Ghana, with stakeholders hopeful that it will usher in a new era of inclusive and equitable economic growth.
