6000 women and youth entrepreneurs receive startup kits under Ghana’s MSME initiatives

The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry has announced that over 6,000 women and youth entrepreneurs in Ghana have received startup kits as part of government efforts to empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and strengthen the country’s industrial and trade capacity.

The announcement was made by Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, during her address at the 2026 Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) held at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on Thursday, 5th February, 2026. She highlighted the crucial role of MSMEs in Ghana’s economy, noting that they account for over 90% of businesses and the majority of employment across Africa.

“Through targeted enterprise development programs, we have equipped over 155,000 entrepreneurs with essential skills and provided startup kits to more than 6,000 mainly women and youth-led enterprises to accelerate growth,” she said.

The Minister also emphasized the government’s commitment to value addition and industrialization, especially in agribusiness sectors such as cocoa, shea, cashew, and honey. She highlighted that these initiatives are part of the broader Feed the Industry program, designed to ensure a sustainable supply of raw materials, boost production, create jobs, and strengthen economic resilience.

Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare further underscored the integration of women into trade and industrial value chains, describing women-led businesses as key drivers of competitiveness and economic transformation. She noted that over 2,800 businesses have been sensitized on cross-border trade procedures and export readiness, supported through partnerships with international organizations.

The Ministry has also activated grants and financing mechanisms under the Ghana Economic Transformation Project, backed by the World Bank, to facilitate firm upgrading, private investment, and improved access to capital for SMEs.

The Trade Minister called for deliberate investment in women and youth-led enterprises, expansion of digital infrastructure, and enhanced public-private partnerships to scale regional value chains and ensure sustainable growth across Ghana and Africa.

By: Bawa Musah

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