Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Minister, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has emphasised Ghana’s rising global competitiveness in entrepreneurship, stating it reflected the country’s commitment to inclusive economic empowerment.

Addressing the 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) in Indianapolis, USA, she stated that entrepreneurship served as a dynamic driver of opportunity, wealth generation, and national pride, reinforcing its importance in inclusive economic development.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare is leading Ghana’s delegation, which includes Dr Mary Awusi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, and Mr Abdul Razak Baba, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC).

Other senior ministry officials are also attending the Congress, held under the theme “The Bold Transforms the World.”

The event is focused on how nations can harness entrepreneurship to drive inclusive transformation.

Delegates from Nigeria, Algeria, South Africa, Chile, Brazil and development partners such as the European Union (EU) Development Centre are participating in the event.

The Minister said the Government was implementing key initiatives to formalise and strengthen Ghana’s entrepreneurship ecosystem through innovation.

Central among these is the GHS 100 million Adwumawura Programme, launched in April 2025 by President John Dramani Mahama, to establish 10,000 youth-led businesses annually, targeting 40,000 within four years.

The programme supports persons aged 18 to 35, including marginalised groups, with business development training, startup capital, mentorship, and access to both local and international markets.

She also mentioned the 1,000,000 Coders initiative, which aims to train one million Ghanaians in digital and coding skills under the Reset Ghana Agenda.

The Minister highlighted other support mechanisms such as the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), which offers training, funding, and mentorship in key sectors including agriculture, technology, and manufacturing.

She cited the Ghana Economic Transformation Project, which provides grants and enterprise support for women, youth, and persons with disabilities, and the revitalised National Apprenticeship Programme, designed to offer vocational training and promote self-employment.

The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation and the World Bank, is also implementing programmes such as BizBox, Apprenticeship to Entrepreneurship (A2E), Agriculture to Agribusiness to Entrepreneurship (AA2E), and MSME Business Acceleration (MBA).

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said the Ministry’s expanded mandate to include agribusiness was attracting investment into land banks, agro-processing zones, and special economic zones.

She added that contract farming and partnerships with local and international investors were strengthening agricultural value chains to support industrial transformation, job creation, and rural development.

“Let us all be bold in our pursuit of innovation. Together, we can break barriers, empower our youth, and transform the world through entrepreneurship,” the Minister said.