By Edward Dankwah, GNA
Accra, June 2, GNA â Ark Group International, a development finance organisation, has launched a new digital platform aimed at addressing the persistent funding challenges facing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana.
The initiative, known as the Ark Group International SME Funding Database, seeks to connect businesses with grants, loans, investment opportunities, and other financing options through a centralized and searchable platform.
In a statement issued by Mr. Joevas Asare, the Managing Director of Ark Group International, said many Ghanaian entrepreneurs continuedâŻto struggle to access capital, not necessarily because funding opportunities do not exist, but because information about themâŻwasâŻoften fragmented and difficult to access.
He noted that thousands of SMEs spentâŻsignificant time searching for grants, loans, and investment opportunities, only to encounter complex requirements and limited information.
Mr. Asare described the challenge as an âinformation asymmetryâ that has long hindered the growth of Ghanaâs private sector, despite SMEs being widely recognized as the backbone of the economy.
He explained that the new platform was designed to bridge the gap between businesses seeking capital and institutions looking to support viable enterprises.
âWe aren’t just building a platform; we are building a bridge,âŻand thatâŻwhile investors and development agenciesâŻareâŻactively searching for high-potential businesses to support, many SMEs remain unaware of available opportunities,â he stated.
The Managing Director added thatâŻthe database goes beyond simply listing funding opportunities by providing a curated and searchable repository that allows users to filter opportunities based on sector, business growth stage, and funding type.
He said the platform would help entrepreneurs save valuable time and resources by streamlining access to relevant financing opportunities.
Mr. Asare further noted that the initiative would also provide useful insights for policymakers, financial institutions, and development partners by identifying sectors with the greatest funding demand and highlighting underserved areas within the SME ecosystem.
He said such data could support evidence-based policy decisions and contribute to broader efforts aimed at improving financial inclusion and strengthening private sector growth.
The Managing Director expressed optimism that the platform would help transform promising business ideas into successful enterprises by reducing barriers to finance and improving access to information.
He said as Ghanaâs economy continued to evolve, initiatives that connect entrepreneurs to capital would play a critical role in driving innovation, job creation, and economic growth.
âFor many entrepreneurs, accessing funding should no longer depend on chance or personal connections but on having the right information at the right time,â he stressed.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah