The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has signaled a reinforced commitment to gender-inclusive industrial growth following a high-level strategic meeting at its National Secretariat.
The President of AGI, Pharm. Kofi Nsiah-Poku, alongside CEO Mr. Seth Twum-Akwaboah and Vice President for SMEs, Mr. Dela Gadzanku, hosted the leadership of AGI-Women in Business (AGI-WIB) to align on the sector’s 2026 priority agenda.
“Led by their Chairperson, the veteran industrialist Dr. Mrs. Grace Amey-Obeng, the AGI-WIB delegation presented a robust framework designed to transition women-led enterprises from survivalist micro-entities into competitive, scalable industrial players.
“The dialogue underscored a critical reality: while women dominate the SME landscape, structural barriers in financing and technical capacity remain the primary bottlenecks to their expansion”
Association of Ghana Industries
A central pillar of the AGI-WIB strategy for the year is the aggressive expansion of their Seed Fund. According to the AGI, the fund is designed to act as a financial buffer for women entrepreneurs who often find themselves priced out of the traditional banking sector due to high interest rates and stringent collateral requirements.
By strengthening this internal resource, the group aims to provide the patient capital necessary for women to invest in machinery and raw materials. Dr. Amey-Obeng emphasized that the focus for 2026 is not just on survival, but on expanding market access and ensuring that women-led brands can compete on both national and continental stages.
Loan-Ready Mandate
In response to the delegation’s goals, Pharm. Kofi Nsiah-Poku offered a pragmatic roadmap focused on technical excellence.
He argued that access to finance is only half the battle; the other half is the internal discipline required to manage that finance. He challenged the AGI-WIB leadership to prioritize “loan-readiness” among their members.
This involves a rigorous focus on the “unsexy” but vital aspects of business management: meticulous record-keeping, accurate costing, and disciplined financial reporting. For the AGI President, these are the prerequisites that transform a micro-enterprise into a bankable entity capable of attracting institutional investment.
“Pharm. Nsiah-Poku commended the women for their commitment and emphasized the importance of targeted training in record-keeping, costing, packaging, productivity, and financial discipline to enable women and micro enterprises to scale sustainably”
Association of Ghana Industries
The meeting also highlighted the power of the cooperative model as a tool for industrial scaling. By grouping micro-enterprises together, women can achieve the economies of scale necessary to negotiate better prices for inputs and secure larger contracts.
The AGI President further noted that improving packaging and productivity is non-negotiable in an era of increased competition. As Ghana integrates further into the AfCFTA framework, the aesthetic and functional quality of packaging will determine which products move from local shelves to international markets.
The inclusion of the AGI Secretariat’s research and policy leads, including Mary Turkson and Francesca Alokpa, ensures that the day’s discussions translate into actionable policy advocacy.
The engagement reaffirmed a shared commitment to protecting member businesses, preserving jobs, and strengthening Ghana’s industrial and manufacturing sector – by empowering its most vibrant segment – women entrepreneurs.
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