Stakeholders at the Nkabom Collaborative SME Investment Forum in Accra have called for stronger partnerships between investors and small businesses to help tackle financing challenges confronting Ghana’s agri-food sector.
The forum, held on the theme “Scaling Impact in Ghana’s Agri-Food Sector,” brought together investors, agribusinesses, development partners, and industry players to explore opportunities for growth, investment, and long-term collaboration.
Organised by the Nkabom Collaborative in partnership with DENSU Associates, the Mastercard Foundation, the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), and other stakeholders, the event focused on improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Speaking at the forum, Mrs Dolores Dickson, Executive Director of DENSU Associates, said the organisation was proud to collaborate with the Nkabom Collaborative in supporting SMEs across the country.
She said a nationwide search conducted ahead of the forum revealed the resilience, innovation, and growth potential of Ghanaian SMEs operating within the agri-food sector.
According to her, more than 100 SMEs were assessed during the selection process, with 50 shortlisted for interviews and 40 businesses eventually selected to participate in the investment forum.
Mrs Dickson explained that the selected businesses received investment readiness training to improve their capacity and position them for expansion opportunities and investor partnerships.
She noted that SMEs account for about 90 percent of businesses in Ghana, employ nearly 85 percent of the workforce, and contribute approximately 70 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Despite their significant contribution to the economy, she said many SMEs continued to struggle to secure funding to scale their operations.
Mrs Dickson disclosed that less than half of SMEs in Ghana had received investment support, while only 28 percent had access to bank financing and fewer than 11 percent secured private equity funding.
She attributed the financing difficulties to high interest rates, strict collateral requirements, and demands by financial institutions for proven business track records.
According to her, the persistent financing gap continues to hinder SME growth despite the sector’s critical role in job creation, rural development, and national food security.
Mrs Dickson said the forum was designed to bridge the financing gap by connecting investor-ready agribusinesses with various capital providers through a structured platform for partnerships, deal-making, and ecosystem development.
She further revealed that DENSU Associates was collaborating with the Mastercard Foundation, AGI, private sector stakeholders, and six universities in Ghana and Canada to support youth-led enterprises.
The initiative aims to support 3,000 youth-led SMEs and create 55,000 jobs for young people aged between 15 and 35 over the next seven years.
This year’s forum showcased 40 vetted Ghanaian nutrition and agri-food SMEs seeking to raise at least GH¢25 million in growth and working capital financing.
Mrs Dickson expressed optimism that the forum would evolve into an annual platform to strengthen collaboration between investors and SMEs operating within agriculture, climate resilience, and circular economy sectors in Ghana.
