National Business Agenda (NBA) aimed at reforming the country’s entrepreneurial environment to better support youth and women-led enterprises has been launched.
The initiative, unveiled at a high-level event in Accra, represents a rare collaboration between government agencies, business associations, civil society, and international development partners.
Developed by the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs (GCYE) with technical assistance from the Investment Climate Reform (ICR) Facility, the NBA is the product of months of nationwide consultations and research.
It seeks to dismantle longstanding structural barriers facing youth and women entrepreneurs across Ghana.
According to the GCYE, the NBA is anchored in a detailed national gap analysis and informed by the voices of over 100 entrepreneurs and 60 ecosystem stakeholders. The document identifies five key reform pillars: policy and regulation, access to finance, market access, infrastructure and digitalization, and enterprise support systems.
“This is not a wish list. It is a well-researched, action-focused blueprint that captures what young and women entrepreneurs have consistently called for,” said Sherif Ghali, CEO of GCYE, during the launch.
CEO of the Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA),Margaret Magoo, ceremonially launched the NBA at the event, officially ushering in a new era of public–private cooperation in entrepreneurship policy reform.
“This is more than a document—it’s a tool to accelerate inclusion, expand opportunities, and guide national enterprise support. The GEA is committed to supporting the implementation of this agenda, especially in underserved regions where entrepreneurship is the strongest pathway to prosperity,” she stated.
The agenda proposes tangible policy recommendations to address constraints such as limited credit access, gender disparities in procurement, weak incubation infrastructure, and outdated regulatory frameworks.
The launch was attended by senior officials from the European Union Delegation to Ghana, Ministry of Finance, British Council, National Youth Authority (NYA), Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA), and National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Microfinance and Small Loans Centre – Masloc, Association Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), all of whom expressed strong support for the initiative.
The representative of the EU Delegation, Ms.Malgorzata Pitura said the NBA aligns with the EU’s commitment to inclusive growth and economic empowerment in Ghana, describing the agenda as “a necessary bridge between policy and practice.”
British Council Country Director, Nii Doodo, added, “The NBA embodies a new model for partnership – driven by evidence, grounded in local needs, and powered by collective ownership.”
NYA CEO, Osman Abdulia Ayariga, pledged the authority’s backing for the agenda, noting its alignment with national youth policy priorities.
Dr. Kaspa Sunday Kampoli, Director of Policy and Research at NEIP, described the NBA as a tool for “rationalizing interventions and minimizing duplication across government agencies.”
Lead consultant Stephen Hunt, of Carsis Consulting, said the NBA provides a critical implementation framework. “It’s not just a policy proposal—it’s a mechanism to track progress, support coordination, and hold stakeholders accountable,” he told the media.
From the ICR Facility, Diego Borrero, technical lead for business environment reform, emphasized the importance of the collaborative model used: “Our partnership with GCYE is based on ecosystem-wide analysis and a shared agenda for long-term impact.”
Also serving on the technical working group that shaped the final document were private sector representatives from two of Ghana’s leading business associations.
John Defor, Director of Research at the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), said AGI “fully supports the NBA’s adoption and will work to embed it in national industry strategies.”
Grace Dzeble, Head of Marketing at the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), said the agenda would “drive a stronger culture of entrepreneurship and enterprise resilience, particularly among Ghana’s underrepresented founders.”
Public–Private Dialogue Platform Launched
A core feature of the NBA is the establishment of a new Public–Private Dialogue (PPD) platform, which will convene government agencies, private sector players, and youth-led organizations on a regular basis to assess progress, recommend reforms, and ensure transparency.
Analysts say the platform could prove critical to overcoming the implementation gap that has historically hindered well-intentioned economic initiatives in Ghana and across West Africa.
A Broader Youth and Gender Imperative
Ghana has one of Africa’s youngest populations, with more than half of its citizens under the age of 25. Yet unemployment and underemployment remain acute challenges. Meanwhile, women—who make up more than 50% of the population—remain significantly underrepresented in formal entrepreneurship.
The NBA is positioned as a response to these systemic imbalances. “If Ghana is serious about economic transformation, youth and women must be at the centre of the national growth agenda. The NBA gives us the tools to make that happen,” Sherif Ghali said.
The post National Business Agenda to tackle youth and women’s economic exclusion launched appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.
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