Ghana has launched a reform of its cooperative sector aimed at modernising a system that mobilises a cumulative capital base of GH¢587.9 million and serves more than 2.4 million members nationwide, as the government moves to replace the Cooperative Societies Decree of 1968 with a new legislative and policy framework.
The reform process, announced by the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr. Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, will culminate in a National Policy on Cooperatives designed to strengthen governance, expand financial inclusion and improve sector efficiency across thousands of cooperative entities operating in agriculture, finance and services.
According to the Department of Cooperatives’ 2025 Statistical Report, Ghana currently has 29,612 registered cooperative societies, with 23,701 classified as active. In 2025 alone, the sector recorded 1,964 new registrations and added 131,979 new members, emphasizing continued expansion despite structural constraints.
Pelpuo described the initiative as a “structured, time-bound” process intended to “define the trajectory” of cooperative development for the next generation, noting that the sector’s scale and economic footprint require stronger regulatory oversight and institutional coordination.
However, the Minister drew attention to persistent governance weaknesses, particularly low compliance with statutory obligations. He indicated that only 449 active cooperatives held Annual General Meetings in 2025, representing a compliance rate of just 1.9 per cent, a gap the government says must be addressed to improve accountability and member confidence.
The reform agenda will be driven by a Technical Working Group comprising representatives from government, the Ghana Cooperative Council, the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, development partners, financial institutions, academia, civil society and the private sector. The group has been tasked with producing a draft policy and updated legal framework to strengthen coordination and improve institutional performance across the sector.
