Ghana marked its inaugural celebration of International MSME Day with a resounding call for transformative change within its Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, emphasizing digital inclusion and strategic reforms as crucial drivers of future growth. Held in Accra on June 27, 2025, the event served as a platform to acknowledge the pivotal role MSMEs play in Ghana’s economic landscape and to outline a renewed commitment to nurturing their development. Margaret Ansei, Acting CEO of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), spearheaded the event, characterizing it as a pivotal moment in Ghana’s enterprise development journey, a convergence of stakeholders dedicated to revitalizing the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The chosen theme, “Empowering MSMEs, Connecting Entrepreneurs for a Digital and Sustainable Future,” encapsulated the overarching goal of the day: to foster a supportive environment where MSMEs can thrive in the digital age.
The significance of MSMEs to Ghana’s economy was underscored throughout the event, with Ansei highlighting their substantial contribution: representing 92% of registered businesses, contributing 70% to the nation’s GDP, and providing 85% of employment within the manufacturing sector. This statistical foundation solidified the rationale behind the day’s proceedings, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to bolster this vital economic engine. Ansei detailed the GEA’s revitalized strategy for MSME development, outlining key areas of focus: expanding access to affordable financing, enhancing productivity, fostering digital literacy, supporting formalization processes, and opening new market opportunities, particularly for marginalized groups such as women, youth, and individuals with disabilities. Central to this strategy is the forthcoming launch of the MSME Gateway Portal, a digital hub developed in partnership with the UNDP, designed to provide MSMEs with essential resources, tools, and support services to enhance their competitiveness and sustainability.
Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare echoed the importance of MSMEs, lauding their resilience, creativity, and boldness. While acknowledging the challenges they face, such as limited access to finance and digital infrastructure, she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing these obstacles through decisive policy action. Central to this commitment is a renewed focus on directing affordable lending towards MSMEs, promoting industrial growth, and streamlining regulatory processes to reduce the cost and time associated with conducting business. A significant component of this strategy is the digital onboarding of 250,000 MSMEs onto e-commerce and business platforms, a key step in expanding digital inclusion within the sector.
Ofosu-Adjare further revealed the ongoing revision of Ghana’s National MSME and Entrepreneurship Policy, a crucial step in aligning the policy framework with current global trends and domestic realities. This revised policy will be accompanied by a costed implementation framework, ensuring targeted execution and measurable outcomes, demonstrating a commitment to tangible progress. The collaboration between the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, the GEA, and international development partners like GIZ, UNDP, UNCDF, the European Union, as well as private sector partners such as Stanbic Bank and MTN Ghana, underscores the collective effort to empower Ghanaian MSMEs.
The International MSME Day celebration was more than just a symbolic event; it offered practical support to entrepreneurs through a series of exhibitions, business clinics, mentorship sessions, and networking platforms. These activities were designed to equip participants with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to navigate the complexities of the digital economy, providing tangible benefits to attendees. This multifaceted approach, combining policy pronouncements with practical support mechanisms, demonstrates a holistic commitment to fostering MSME growth.
Under the leadership of Margaret Ansei and her team at the GEA, and with the support of key governmental and international partners, the future of Ghana’s MSME sector appears promising. The focus on digital transformation, policy alignment, and inclusive growth suggests a concerted effort to create an environment where MSMEs can flourish. The combination of targeted interventions, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to digital inclusion paints a positive picture for the future of entrepreneurship in Ghana. The inaugural International MSME Day celebration served not just as a commemoration, but as a launchpad for a renewed era of support and development for this vital sector of the Ghanaian economy. The commitment to a revised national policy, coupled with concrete actions like the digital onboarding initiative and the MSME Gateway Portal, signals a proactive approach to empowering MSMEs and integrating them into the digital future.
