In a quest to rebuild a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem post-Covid-19, Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) has organised the 2022 ANDE West Africa Regional Conference in Accra, to address challenges facing small and growing businesses (SGB's).

For four years, the conference has been a destination for enterprise support organisations, capacity building agencies, accelerators, academic institutions and governments that propel entrepreneurship in developing countries.

The aim of the conference was to make available a platform for ANDE members across the region to interact and find solutions to the most pressing challenges faced by SMEs in Africa.

Speaking to Joy Business, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Development Bank Ghana, Michael Mensah-Baah said his outfit is collaborating with some government institutions to put together an intervention programme to cushion young entrepreneurs.

"At the moment, we are putting together strong governance structures, in preparedness to begin giving out our first loans. However, we have also formed partnerships with the Ghana Enterprises Agency, the Association of Ghana Industries and the Ghana National Chamber of commerce and Industries".

"We also understand the challenges that the SME's face, so the products we will design will be tailored in a way that supports the growth of these SMEs”, he added

A member of ANDE, Peter Bamkole, advised young entrepreneurs to leverage technology to expand their business.

"Whether we like it or not SMEs must begin to adopt technology or digitalisation of their processes from supply end, delivery and after-sales service. Businesses that thrived during COVID-19 were those that leverage on technology".

Touching on the lack of finance for SMEs in Ghana, the Managing Director of Venture Capital Trust Fund, Hamdiya Ismaila, said entrepreneurs must resort to the right financial institutions to seek support.

"One of the difficulties we have in Ghana is that entrepreneurs chase monies that are not right for them. At Venture Capital Trust Fund, we provide equity type of funding which is long-term because we provide funds for startups to grow".

The two-day conference offered tangible opportunity to network, collaborate, and learn with some of Africa's foremost leaders, practitioners and visionaries.

It was made up of an interactive agenda with sessions focused on cross-cutting sector issues.

Professional speakers included Group Head of Business at Access Bank Ghana, Kafui Bimpe; Chief Executive Officer of National Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programme (NEIP), Kofi Ofosu Nkansah; General Manager of Venture Capital Trust Fund, Hamdiya Ismaila; Director of Enterprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University, Nigeria, Peter Bamkole and Deputy CEO of Development Bank Ghana, Micheal Mensah-Baah.

The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs is a global network of organization. ANDE members provide critical financial, educational and business support services to small and growing businesses(SGB's)based on the conviction that SGB's create jobs, stimute long-term economic growth, produce environmental and social benefits.