Ghana is stepping up efforts to expand participation in digital trade, holding a capacity-building workshop for businesses in Kumasi aimed at helping smaller firms tap opportunities under the continent’s free trade framework.
The programme, organised by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry with support from ODI Global, forms part of a broader push to promote inclusive digital commerce and build awareness of the digital trade provisions under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
According to officials, the engagement focused on disseminating the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol while advancing the goals of Ghana’s National E-Commerce Strategy, which aims to broaden participation in online trade and strengthen the country’s digital economy.A key focus was expanding access for historically underrepresented groups, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, women and youth-led businesses, and persons with disabilities.
Authorities selected Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region, as the venue because of its role as a major commercial hub linking Ghana’s northern and southern trade corridors. Officials said the location allows wider outreach to businesses outside the capital while connecting smaller enterprises to institutions shaping digital trade policy.
The initiative is being supported through the Supporting Investment and Trade in Africa programme run by ODI Global, which aims to help Ghanaian businesses position themselves to benefit from AfCFTA market opportunities.
Organisers said the engagement also sought to strengthen understanding of digital trade regulations and build the skills needed for businesses to compete in online marketplaces across Africa. Ghana has been promoting e-commerce as part of a strategy to deepen regional trade integration, with policymakers increasingly viewing digital platforms as a way for smaller firms to access larger continental markets under AfCFTA.
The workshop brought together regulators, private sector operators and development partners to strengthen collaboration and help businesses integrate e-commerce into regional and continental trade frameworks.
