Ghana has emerged as a regional frontrunner in financial services readiness, scoring 72 percent in the sector under the World Bank’s Business Ready (B-READY) 2025 report. However, the report cautions that operational efficiency gaps could limit the country’s ability to compete effectively on the global stage.
The findings were presented at a dissemination event in Accra, where stakeholders examined Ghana’s performance across the B-READY framework, which assesses economies under three pillars: Regulatory Framework, Public Services, and Operational Efficiency.
According to the report, Ghana scored 69 in Regulatory Frameworks, 50 in Public Services, and 52 in Operational Efficiency.
While the country outperformed many sub-Saharan African peers overall, the results point to a widening gap between strong regulations and the pace of service delivery.
Financial services and labour emerged as Ghana’s strongest performing areas. With a score of 72 percent in financial services, the country is commended for its robust regulatory environment, particularly in secured transactions and electronic payments.
We In the labour category, Ghana ranked within the top 20 percent of economies globally, recording a score of 71.
The assessment also highlighted solid performance in business entry and utility services, noting Ghana’s relatively high levels of transparency in tariff setting and access procedures.
Regionally, Ghana’s regulatory framework was ranked the strongest among its peers, while its public services score trailed only Togo’s. Despite this, the World Bank stressed that regulatory strength alone is insufficient without efficient implementation.
Mr. Robert Taliercio, World Bank Division Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, said Ghana had performed well “in World Cup terms” but still faced a significant delivery gap.
“The gap between strong rules and slower delivery affects how investors assess risk, cost, and predictability,” he said, noting that Ghana’s gross capital formation stands at about 10 percent of GDP, compared with roughly 30 percent in industrialising economies such as Morocco.
Mr. Taliercio linked the findings to the government’s proposed 24-Hour Economy programme, stressing that the initiative is less about extended working hours and more about system readiness.
He said modern industry requires ports, utilities, and regulators to operate with speed, consistency, and reliability.
Mr. Kyle Kelhofer, Senior Country Manager for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for Ghana and Liberia, described the engagement as action-oriented, aimed at narrowing the gap between policy ambition and operational realities.
He noted that businesses are best positioned to identify inefficiencies within the system and urged stakeholders to propose practical, implementable solutions to reduce delays and bottlenecks.
According to Mr. Kelhofer, the World Bank Group is focused not only on diagnosing challenges but also on supporting reforms that improve firm productivity and unlock private investment critical for job creation.
The report identified market competition as a major weakness, with a low score of 34 percent, alongside shortcomings in business insolvency processes and dispute resolution mechanisms.
International trade is cited as a key example of operational inefficiency. Although Ghana’s regulatory framework is strong, import clearance takes an average of 23 days—nearly three times longer than the eight days recorded in peer economies such as Cameroon.
To unlock its full potential, the World Bank recommended that Ghana streamline export restrictions, improve the transparency of licensing systems, and clarify penalty procedures.
Despite these challenges, the report expressed optimism about Ghana’s reform trajectory, noting the recent introduction of a Trusted Trader programme. The initiative is expected to significantly improve border management efficiency and enhance Ghana’s performance in future B-READY assessments.
