A new $15 million initiative aimed at boosting women-led businesses in Ghana’s non-traditional export sector has been launched, signaling a major policy and investment shift towards gender-inclusive trade growth.
The Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) has entered into a strategic partnership with Guzakuza, a Pan-African, women-led agribusiness organisation, to roll out WISE Exports 2.0 a four-year programme designed to scale 300 female-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into globally competitive exporters.
Targeting a cumulative $15 million in export sales and more than 1,500 direct and indirect jobs by 2029, the initiative will focus on value-added chains in key sectors such as cassava, moringa, cocoa, dried fruits, shea, baobab, coconut, and fashion accessories sectors where women entrepreneurs have traditionally been underrepresented but hold strong growth potential.
“This MOU signals to Ghana, Africa, and the world that women-led exports are a strategic priority. WISE Exports 2.0 is not just a programme, it’s a transformational movement to build inclusive wealth and sustainable trade opportunities.” said Emmanuel Ansah-Amprofi, Youth and Gender Coordinator at FAGE.
FAGE CEO Abdul-Karim Dubiure described the agreement as a bold new chapter for the country’s export ambitions. “We are committed to placing women at the forefront of Ghana’s export drive, marking a bold turning point for women-led initiatives that will transform lives nationwide,” he stated.
The initiative is a collaborative effort that merges FAGE’s trade policy leadership with Guzakuza’s grassroots expertise in scaling agribusinesses and BuyAfricaMade’s digital marketplace that connects African SMEs with global buyers.
In doing so, WISE Exports 2.0 aims to directly confront three persistent barriers facing women exporters: limited access to export readiness training, inadequate trade financing options, and exclusion from global market systems.
“Women entrepreneurs are powering Africa’s growth quietly. It’s time they get the systems and scale to go global,” said Guzakuza Founder, Nana Adjoa Sefa.
To deliver on its ambitious targets, the programme is seeking co-funding from strategic investors, development agencies, and trade finance partners, with an immediate implementation budget of $3 million.
WISE Exports 2.0 is strongly aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those targeting gender equality, economic growth, and industry innovation.
