The government is taking steps to enhance the operating environment of entrepreneurship to address the challenges faced by women-owned businesses.
These interventions include strengthened partnerships with development finance institutions and targeted lending schemes, and continued investment in digital and financial innovation.
The Minister of Trade and Agribusiness, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, on behalf of the Vice-President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, made the statement at the Women’s Summit in Accra last Monday.
She said other efforts would include expanding access to opportunities for women-led enterprises through institutions such as the Ghana Enterprise Agency and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme.
“The focus is not only on participation but also on achieving results, helping women-owned businesses to grow, formalise and thrive in larger, more competitive markets,” she said.
She revealed that women-owned businesses account for nearly 40 per cent of Ghana’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), yet structural barriers continue to limit their growth.
These include restricted access to capital, exclusion from supply chains, limited participation in export markets and persistent gender biases.
“Resilience under these conditions is not enough. Without the right support, it leads to fatigue rather than growth.
But under improved conditions, resilience can drive expansion, job creation and economic transformation. This is inevitable,” she added.
Summit
The summit was organised by the Oxford Africa Women Leadership Institute (OAWLI) on the theme: “Give to Gain: Empowering Women Investors, Entrepreneurs & Leaders to Thrive”.
It brought together women entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders, development partners from across Africa to explore opportunities for capital mobilisation, partnership and business growth.
Fund
She further announced that the government would soon launch the Women Development Fund, a flagship initiative designed to provide concessionary, collateral-free loans, financial literacy training, credit guarantees, and business development support.
The fund, she disclosed, is backed by over GH¢400 million and is being implemented under her office on the directive of the President.
“These partnerships with community-based financial institutions for women-led enterprises are just the beginning. They will help tackle the credit gap, reduce lending risks, attract capital, and support women in scaling from micro to large enterprises, ultimately driving economic growth,” she said.
Collaborations
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare emphasised that government action alone would not be sufficient to achieve the scale of transformation required.
She challenged investors, private sector leaders, and development partners to move beyond rhetoric and commit to sustained, scalable support for women entrepreneurs.
“The case for investing in women is already established.
The question now is whether we will act on it consistently, deliberately and at scale,” she said.
She outlined key priorities, including unlocking patient capital, integrating women into supply chains and public-private partnerships, expanding access to export markets and strengthening institutional frameworks for inclusive growth.
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare encouraged women entrepreneurs to leverage platforms such as the summit to refine their business models, build cross-border partnerships and position themselves for global competitiveness.
“Your opportunities are rare, but they must be pursued with dedication. Ambition must be matched with structure,” she added.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
