By Edward Dankwah
Accra, May 20 (GNA) – Stakeholders at the Nkabom Collaborative Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Investment Forum in Accra have called for stronger partnerships between investors and small businesses to help address financing constraints in Ghana’s agri-food sector.
Held on the theme, “Scaling Impact in Ghana’s Agri-Food Sector,” the forum brought together investors, agribusinesses, and development partners to explore opportunities for growth and long-term collaboration.
Mrs Dolores Dickson, Executive Director of DENSU Associates, said the organisation was honoured to collaborate with the Nkabom Collaborative in supporting SMEs across Ghana.
The forum was organised by the Nkabom Collaborative in partnership with DENSU Associates, the Mastercard Foundation, the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), and other stakeholders.
Mrs Dickson noted that the nationwide search for participating businesses highlighted the resilience and potential of Ghanaian SMEs. More than 100 SMEs were visited, 50 shortlisted for interviews, and 40 ultimately selected to participate in the forum.
She explained that the selected businesses underwent investment readiness training to better position them for partnerships and expansion opportunities.
According to Mrs Dickson, SMEs account for about 90 per cent of businesses in Ghana, employ nearly 85 per cent of the workforce, and contribute approximately 70 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Despite their economic significance, she said less than half of SMEs have received investment support, with only 28 per cent accessing bank financing and fewer than 11 per cent securing private equity funding.
She attributed the challenge to stringent collateral requirements, high interest rates, and demands for established track records by traditional banks and private equity firms.
Mrs Dickson said the persistent financing gap continued to limit SME growth, despite their important role in job creation, rural development, and national food security.
She explained that the forum sought to bridge this gap by connecting investor-ready agribusinesses with a range of capital providers through a structured platform for deal-making, partnerships, and ecosystem strengthening.
Mrs Dickson added 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, she said, aims to support 3,000 youth-led SMEs and create 55,000 jobs for young people between the ages of 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 hope that the forum would become an annual platform for strengthening collaboration between investors and SMEs operating in agriculture, climate resilience, and the circular economy sectors in Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Audrey Dekalu