65% of Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) owners lack formal management training skills, says Strategic Communications Africa Limited (Stratcomm Africa).
Despite SMEs accounting for nearly 90% of all businesses, contributing 40 to 60% to GDP and providing about 80% of total employment, more than 65% of owners reportedly lack formal management training, affecting growth, branding, and market competitiveness.
Ms. Halimatu Quaye, Chief Executive Officer of Limatu and Services, producers of local drinks and natural fruit juices, said as a business owner she hardly gets training in managerial roles due to a tight work schedule.
Hence, training SMEs would teach SMEs a lot of things they are not doing right, and gain invaluable knowledge on branding, telling their company’s story, and understanding how customers perceive their products,”
Analysts say this makes continuous training essential because capacity gaps among SME owners directly limit Ghana’s economic transformation.
Without strong management, businesses struggle to scale, adopt efficient processes, create jobs, attract investment, or compete in regional markets, weaknesses that collectively slow national growth.
Chief Executive Officer of Stratcomm Africa, Madam Esther Cobbah, said that training SMEs strengthens Ghana’s SME sector through strategic communication.
“At Stratcomm Africa, we believe communication is not just an add-on to business but it is the engine that drives visibility, credibility, and sustainable growth,” she said.
Madam Cobbah said Stratcomm Africa will continue investing in initiatives that provide practical branding and communication solutions tailored to SME needs, given the persistent gaps in management skills and structured training across the sector.