The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has opened discussions with Ghana’s Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry to design stronger support systems for women entrepreneurs, as part of a feasibility study that could shape future development financing.
The engagement, held in Accra on September 15, 2025, was led by AFD Deputy Country Director Claire Delacare. It forms part of a study on women’s entrepreneurship being conducted by the HORUS-ATRIUM Consortium on AFD’s behalf. The session brought together the Ministry’s SME, Trade Facilitation, and Research directorates, with officials outlining existing programmes, policy gaps, and persistent barriers facing women-led businesses.
SME Director Cynthia Djokoto detailed initiatives run through the Ghana Enterprise Agency, including financing schemes, certification support, and capacity building. She said collaborations with the World Bank, Mastercard, Trademark Africa, and the Ghana Shippers Authority are helping expand opportunities, with a nationwide training programme for 1,200 small-scale and cross-border women traders set to launch. A mobile app is also being developed to allow traders to report border challenges in local languages, ensuring faster responses.
Djokoto noted that structural barriers, including limited access to capital, gaps in financial literacy, and insufficient knowledge of the business ecosystem, continue to constrain women entrepreneurs. She called for sustainability in donor-funded projects, warning that support often diminishes once funding cycles end.
Trade Facilitation Director Alex Mensah highlighted compliance training for women, youth, and persons with disabilities in border towns including Elubo, Aflao, and Takoradi. He said the National Committee on Trade and Gender, launched in 2021, is driving inclusivity through regional gender champions, dialogue platforms, and USAID-backed digital reporting tools for customs issues.
Research Director George Owusu Amoah reinforced the need for institutional strengthening to ensure long-term impact.
In response, Delacare welcomed the Ministry’s comprehensive overview, describing it as essential input for the study. “The insights provided will guide the study and help shape a sustainable project that could be jointly developed with the Ministry for long-term impact,” she said.
The initiative aligns with AFD’s commitment to promoting gender-focused entrepreneurship across Africa, with Ghana positioned as a potential pilot for scalable support models that can be adapted in other countries.
