Government is pledging stronger financial and policy support for women-led businesses as it seeks to boost economic growth and resilience, with officials outlining new initiatives ranging from dedicated lending programs to incentives under the country’s 24-hour economy agenda.
Speaking at the Ghana Female CEO Summit 2026 in Accra under the theme “Women Driving Sustainable Businesses for a Resilient Africa,” Chief of Staff Julius Debrah said empowering women entrepreneurs would be central to Ghana’s long-term economic transformation.
Debrah said businesses and institutions led by women contribute to stronger communities and more resilient economies, urging female entrepreneurs and executives to become role models for younger women entering business and leadership.
According to him, government would work to improve access to finance and mentorship while promoting policies that enable women-owned enterprises to expand.
Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare described women as “the engine of national growth,” telling business leaders, diplomats and policymakers that Ghana could not achieve its economic ambitions while underutilizing half of its population.
Ofosu-Adjare praised female entrepreneurs and investors for sustaining businesses and creating jobs despite economic pressures, adding that women continue to play a critical role across trade, agribusiness and industry.
She outlined several government initiatives under President John Dramani Mahama aimed at accelerating women’s economic participation.
Among them is the proposed Ghana Women’s Development Bank, which has been allocated GH¢401 million in the 2026 budget to provide low-interest loans, mentorship and tailored financing for women-owned businesses.
The minister also highlighted the 24-Hour Economy Authority Act, 2026, which she said would support women in sectors including agro-processing, retail, manufacturing and hospitality through incentives and expanded financing opportunities.
Ofosu-Adjare called for closer cooperation between government, financial institutions, development partners and the private sector to ensure policy commitments translate into measurable outcomes for women entrepreneurs across Africa.
Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf urged African women to move from being “shock absorbers to architects,” encouraging them to take leadership roles in industrialization and green energy development.
“If your dream does not scare you, it’s not big enough,” Sirleaf said.
Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana Matilda Asante Asiedu said all commercial banks in Ghana have been directed to establish dedicated desks to improve women’s access to credit.
She noted that women own 44% of small and medium-sized enterprises in Ghana and said supporting female entrepreneurs has broader economic benefits. “Financing a female entrepreneur is a multiplier for national development,” she said.The summit, now in its 11th edition, also featured remarks from Ghana CEO Summit Convenor Claudia Kwarteng Lumor, former Liberian Vice President Jewell Howard Taylor and Joyce R. Aryee.
