Ghana’s influential policy think tank IMANI Africa has endorsed the resolutions from last month’s Kwahu Business Forum, describing them as a potential catalyst for transforming the country’s small business landscape.
The forum, convened by the Office of the Chief of Staff, produced a roadmap addressing critical constraints facing micro, small and medium enterprises.
At the April gathering in Kwahu, government officials, private sector leaders and development experts coalesced around several priority interventions. These included improving access to affordable financing, upgrading digital infrastructure, and targeted support for high-potential sectors like agribusiness, renewable energy and technology. The forum particularly emphasized inclusive policies to boost participation by women and youth entrepreneurs.
IMANI’s analysis suggests the proposed measures could significantly strengthen Ghana’s SME ecosystem if systematically implemented. The think tank highlighted digital infrastructure development as particularly transformative, noting its potential to connect rural businesses with financial services and online markets. Such connectivity could help smaller enterprises overcome geographic limitations and tap into broader customer bases.
The policy organization also welcomed the forum’s sector-specific approach, arguing that tailored support for industries like agro-processing and green energy could enhance competitiveness while creating spillover effects across the economy. IMANI stressed that combining these measures with improved investment climate stability would give entrepreneurs greater confidence to expand operations and innovate.
While endorsing the forum’s outcomes, IMANI implicitly cautioned against the tendency for such initiatives to yield limited concrete results. Ghana has seen numerous business summits produce ambitious declarations that later stall in implementation. The think tank’s measured optimism reflects awareness that the forum’s true impact will depend on sustained execution across government agencies and private sector collaboration.
The Kwahu resolutions emerge as Ghana seeks to revitalize its SME sector following recent economic challenges. With small businesses accounting for about 70% of industrial employment, their growth remains crucial for job creation and inclusive development. Observers will monitor whether this latest initiative translates into tangible policy actions or joins the list of well-intentioned but under-executed economic dialogues.
