Ghana Marks 2025 MSME Day with the digital programming of the UN at the forefront

The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MoTAI) and the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) led the national celebration of Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day on June 27, 2025. The celebration, themed “Empowering MSMEs: Connecting Entrepreneurs for a Digital and Sustainable Future,” was to spotlight the role of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Ghana’s path towards sustainable development.

Organised by the Government of Ghana, the UN in Ghana and partners, this event brought together public and private sector representatives and included blended plenary and panel discussions as well as exhibitions by some of Ghana’s very vibrant MSMEs.  The UN’s engagement was possible thanks to the support of the Joint SDG Fund and the contributions of key UN Member States such as the European Union through the Leveraging Digital Ecosystems for increased MSMEs’ Productivity Joint Programme (2024-2027, implemented by UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and UN Development Programme (UNDP).

The initiative served as a forum for dialogue among government, private sector actors, investors, and development partners on scaling impactful support systems and unlocking catalytic financing. It also provided a platform to showcase progress made under the UN Joint Programme to expand MSMEs’ access to digital infrastructure, finance, and markets. Specifically, the UN announced two milestones of the Joint Programme:

1. Soft launch of the Digital Gateway, the one-stop-shop for MSMEs under the auspices of GEA
2. The five selected Financial Service Providers (FSPs) that will be accompanied by the project in developing digital financial services that meet MSME needs

UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative, Shaima Hussein, stressed the importance of supporting MSMEs in Ghana’s development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8, which promotes inclusive growth and decent work for all. “The gateway will include information on business registration and other support services, information on access to finance, capacity building tools, and an e-commerce marketplace to help MSMEs sell their products online.” she announced.

The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, bemoaned the slow rate at which SMEs grow and the fact that many operate informally, limiting their access to government support, financial services, and digital tools. “We are committed to simplifying government support,” she said, adding that “the ministry has established the business regulatory reform, to coordinate and streamline certification and registration processing across agencies, using their digital platforms.” The EU’s Team Lead for Trade and Macroeconomics, Timothy Dolan, expressed joy at the gathering, commending the resilience, innovation, and determination of MSMEs. He described the event as a call to action for all stakeholders and urged them to walk their talk.

The Programme then focused on one of the main challenges that MSMEs face, that is access to financing. An engaging UNCDF-led panel titled, Investment, Financial and Digital Inclusion for MSMEs – Prospects Today and Beyond featured panellists from MTN, Stanbic Bank, Impact Investing Ghana, and Sava Shea Company Limited. The panel explored  how the financial ecosystem can offer digital solutions to support MSMEs along their growth journey— from basic digital financial services to commercial banks and investment –-, and what it takes for private sector to offer such services effectively. In this context, the UN Joint Programming will help strengthen the ecosystem to deliver financial services to MSMEs while creating the conditions for the private sector to crowd-in capital for long-term sustainability.