Ghana has officially celebrated its first International Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Day with a strong commitment to reposition the sector as a catalyst for national transformation, digital inclusion, and sustainable economic growth.
At the maiden national event held in Accra on Friday, June 27, 2025, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, laid out a comprehensive government roadmap under the theme “Empowering MSMEs, Connecting Entrepreneurs for a Digital and Sustainable Future.”
“We are gathered as a full spectrum of Ghana’s enterprise ecosystem, from government and development partners to financiers and technology enablers, to connect, collaborate and chart a bold new path,” the Minister stated.
She praised Ghana’s MSMEs as “bold, creative and resilient,” but also described them as “malnourished” due to weak access to finance, limited digital capacity, and inadequate policy support. Likening their experience to “watching a movie from outside the cinema,” she said many entrepreneurs are left watching opportunities unfold without being able to fully participate.
Referencing a 2022 report on MSME digital transformation, Madam Ofosu-Adjare highlighted key barriers including informality, low digital literacy, and minimal use of digital platforms for growth.
Despite this, she commended young business owners who leverage WhatsApp, Instagram and mobile money in what the report dubbed “digital bricolage.”
She announced four priority goals for delivery by 2027: unlocking GHS 6 billion in affordable lending for 100,000 MSMEs 60% of which will be youth and women-led; establishing three industrial and agroecological parks; reducing regulatory certification time and cost by 40% for 5,000 enterprises; and digitally onboarding 250,000 MSMEs to enhance access to finance, compliance, and visibility. “These goals,” she declared, “are ambitious, but ambition is what this moment demands.”
The Minister added that the National MSME and Entrepreneurship Policy is being reviewed to reflect sector realities and a costed strategy is in development.
She disclosed that the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) has been tasked with producing a new strategic plan focusing on youth, women, persons with disabilities, and the informal sector.
Ongoing interventions include regulatory simplification through the Business Regulatory Reform Unit, digital training under the Apprenticeship-to-Entrepreneurship Programme, innovative financing platforms, and the establishment of a dedicated Women’s Bank.
Flagship projects such as the Accelerated Export Development Programme, Feed the Industry Initiative, Made-in-Ghana Promotion, and Rapid Industrialisation for Jobs Strategy were also highlighted.
“These initiatives are structured to integrate MSMEs as suppliers, processors, and innovators across value chains in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, garments, and the automotive sectors,” she emphasized.
Pledging support for women-led businesses, the Minister said, “from Makola market women to East Legon tech innovators,” government is backing their transition “from informal to formal, manual to digital, and local to global.” She added, “That is not just good policy; it is the foundation for a stronger, fairer, and more competitive economy.”
GEA CEO Madam Margaret Ansei described the day as a “purposeful convergence” of key players across the enterprise ecosystem. With MSMEs comprising 92% of registered businesses and contributing 70% to GDP, she stressed their central role in Ghana’s economic future.
She said GEA is driving inclusion and resilience through affordable finance, capacity-building, digital access, formalisation support, and a strong focus on underrepresented groups. She also announced the upcoming launch of the MSME Gateway Portal, in partnership with UNDP, which will serve as a one-stop digital hub for business support.
“Let today be a celebration of how far we have come, and a reaffirmation of how much further we will go together,” she concluded.
This year’s observance, organised by the Ministry of Trade in partnership with GEA, GIZ Ghana, UNDP, UNCDF, the European Union, MTN, and Stanbic Bank, brought together stakeholders from government, finance, development, and academia for exhibitions, policy clinics, and solution-focused discussions.
