Ghana has marked its first official celebration of International MSME Day with a bold commitment to reposition the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector at the heart of national transformation, digital inclusion, and sustainable economic growth.

Delivering the keynote address at the maiden national MSME Day celebration held in Accra on Friday, 27th June, 2025, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare (MP), outlined government’s strategic agenda to energize the MSME sector under the theme “Empowering MSMEs, Connecting Entrepreneurs for a Digital and Sustainable Future.”

“We are gathered as a full spectrum of Ghana’s enterprise ecosystem, from government and development partners to financiers and technology enablers, to connect, collaborate and chart a bold new path,” the Minister declared.

In her address, Madam Ofosu-Adjare described Ghana’s MSMEs as “bold, creative and resilient,” but often “malnourished” due to limited access to finance, digital tools, and supportive policy frameworks. She likened their struggle to watching a movie from outside the cinema, seeing the action but unable to participate fully.

Citing findings from a 2022 study on MSME digital transformation, the Minister pointed to key obstacles, including informality, poor digital literacy, and underutilisation of mobile and social platforms for business growth. Despite these challenges, she praised the ingenuity of young entrepreneurs using WhatsApp, Instagram, and mobile money to sustain their businesses, a phenomenon the study termed “digital bricolage.”

Reaffirming government’s commitment to the MSME sector, Madam. Ofosu-Adjare announced an ambitious four-pronged target for delivery by 2027:

• Unlock GHS 6 Billion in Affordable Lending – Targeting at least 100,000 MSMEs, with 60% of beneficiaries being women and youth-led enterprises.
• Operationalise Three Industrial and Agroecological Parks – Shared facilities providing energy, logistics and infrastructure to enable MSMEs to scale and generate formal jobs.
• Cut Certification Time and Costs by 40% – Supporting 5,000 MSMEs to achieve regulatory compliance with agencies such as the FDA, GSA and ORC.
• Digitally Onboard 250,000 MSMEs – Enhancing formality, access to finance, and visibility through e-commerce, payments, and business management platforms.

These goals she noted are ambitious, but ambition is what this moment demands,” she stated, adding that a collective review of progress would be conducted a year from now.

Touting a Comprehensive Policy and Institutional Reforms, The Minister revealed that the National MSME and Entrepreneurship Policy is being revised to reflect current sector realities, with a costed implementation strategy to ensure measurable results.

She also disclosed that the Ghana Enterprises Agency has been tasked to develop a new strategic plan focused on youth, women, persons with disabilities, and the informal sector.

Among the ongoing government interventions she highlighted were:

• The Business Regulatory Reform (BRR) Unit to simplify certification and registration.
• The Apprenticeship-to-Entrepreneurship Programme, which is investing in digital skills training.
• Access to innovative financial products like zero-fee mobile credit and merchant-friendly platforms.
• The creation of a Women’s Bank to ease access to capital for female entrepreneurs.
• Flagship programmes such as the Accelerated Export Development Programme (AEDP), Feed the Industry Initiative, Made-in-Ghana Promotion, and Rapid Industrialisation for Jobs Strategy.

“These initiatives are structured to integrate MSMEs as suppliers, processors, and innovators across value chains in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles, garments, and the automotive sectors,” she emphasized.

Taking a personal tone, Madam. Ofosu-Adjare pledged her unwavering support for Ghanaian women entrepreneurs, from Makola market women to East Legon tech innovators, to transition from informal to formal, manual to digital, and local to global. “That is not just good policy; it is the foundation for a stronger, fairer, and more competitive economy,” she affirmed.

In her welcome address, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), Madam Margaret Ansei, described the 2025 MSME Day as a purposeful convergence of key actors across Ghana’s enterprise landscape, coming together to reaffirm their shared commitment to the transformation of the MSME sector.

She noted that with 92% of all registered businesses in Ghana classified as MSMEs, contributing about 70% to national GDP and employing 85% of the country’s manufacturing workforce, their importance to Ghana’s economic future cannot be overstated.

Madam Ansei outlined GEA’s strategy to drive inclusion and resilience in the sector through improved access to affordable financing, capacity building, market access, digital empowerment, and formalisation support, with a keen focus on women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

She also highlighted the planned launch of the MSME Gateway Portal, developed in partnership with the UNDP, as a major digital leap forward, serving as a one-stop platform to deliver timely access to business resources, tools, and support services. “Let today be a celebration of how far we have come, and a reaffirmation of how much further we will go together,” she concluded.

This year’s celebration, spearheaded by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry in partnership with the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), GIZ Ghana, UNDP, UNCDF, the European Union, MTN, and Stanbic Bank, marks the first time Ghana has officially observed International MSME Day at the national level.

Participants included policymakers, private sector actors, financial institutions, development partners, entrepreneurs, and representatives from academia, all gathered to explore new solutions through exhibitions, business clinics, and panel sessions.