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World Bank Group Launches Business Ready Report in Ghana; Calls for Urgent Reforms to Boost Private Sector Growth

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The World Bank Group has launched the Business Ready (B-READY) Report in Ghana, providing a comprehensive assessment of the country’s business environment and identifying key areas for reform. The report highlights Ghana’s strengths in labour market regulations and utility services but underscores critical challenges in business registration, property transfer, construction permits, access to credit, and dispute resolution.

Speaking at the launch, Robert Taliercio O’Brien, Division Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone at the World Bank, emphasized the urgency of addressing Ghana’s bureaucratic inefficiencies and regulatory bottlenecks.The B-READY data highlights several areas where Ghana is doing better than peers in the Sub-Saharan Africa region… At the same time, the data reveals significant bottlenecks that, if unaddressed, will continue stifling growth and deterring investment,” he said.

“Achieving the full impact of Ghana’s economic transformation agenda depends on establishing robust regulatory frameworks and enhancing institutional efficiency. The government is committed to removing long-standing barriers that have hindered businesses from realizing their full potential,” the Minister stated.

The report’s methodology and global benchmarking were presented by Valeria Perotti, Manager of the Business Ready (B-READY) unit at the World Bank, who provided insights into how Ghana compares to peer economies and where targeted reforms could unlock growth. “The B-READY initiative is not just a set of rankings; it is a diagnostic tool that provides governments with a clear roadmap for reform. Our goal is to ensure a business environment that is efficient, transparent, and conducive to investment,” she said.

The launch event featured an engaging panel discussion with key private sector leaders and policy experts, including Simon Madjie, CEO, of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC); Alexander Mould, CEO, of Millennium Development Authority (MiDA); Mavis Owusu Gyamfi, President & CEO, African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET); Seth Twum Akwaboah, CEO, Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and; Ashok Mohinani, Executive Director, Mohinani Group. The panel explored practical solutions for improving Ghana’s business climate, emphasizing the need for digitalization of regulatory processes, simplification of tax and trade procedures, and enhanced public-private collaboration.

Kyle Kelhofer, Senior Country Manager for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, International Finance Corporation (IFC), reaffirmed the World Bank Group’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s economic transformation. “The World Bank Group stands ready to assist Ghana with both financial and technical support to implement key reforms. This includes investments in infrastructure, digital transformation of public services, and strengthening credit systems to enhance financial access for businesses,” he said.

The World Bank Group has called on policymakers and the private sector to work together to implement reforms that will enhance business competitiveness, attract investment, and drive sustainable economic growth.

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NEIP and MoFA Partner to Boost Poultry Agribusiness Under Adwumawura Programme

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The National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to scale up support for agricultural entrepreneurs through the Adwumawura Programme.

 

The partnership seeks to strengthen Ghana’s agribusiness sector by combining MoFA’s technical expertise with NEIP’s entrepreneurship training initiatives.

 

As part of the agreement, MoFA will provide high-quality poultry feed and deliver technical and field support to programme beneficiaries. NEIP, on the other hand, will equip entrepreneurs with practical business training and essential resources, including hen coops, to help them establish and expand their poultry ventures.

 

At the signing ceremony, officials from both institutions emphasized that the collaboration is tailored to empower small-scale poultry farmers, especially “nkoko nketenkete” entrepreneurs, to create jobs, grow agribusinesses, and contribute to sustainable economic development.

 

The initiative falls under NEIP’s broader Reset Agenda, which is focused on driving innovation, supporting small enterprises, and positioning agriculture as a central pillar of Ghana’s economic transformation.

 

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Commercial Transport Operators Threaten Strike Over Soaring Spare Parts Prices

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Commercial Transport Operators have issued a stern warning to government, demanding immediate action to reduce the high cost of spare parts or risk facing major disruptions in the transport sector.

 

In a statement dated September 9, 2025, the operators said they felt “compelled” to call on the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Finance, and the Parliamentary Select Committees on Trade, Industry, and Transport to swiftly intervene.

 

They recalled that in March 2025, during engagements with spare parts dealers and government officials, a promise was made to bring down spare parts prices, but nothing had been done since.

 

“Unfortunately, this promise has not been fulfilled, and the prices remain exorbitant,” the operators lamented.

 

The statement further warned: “If immediate action is not taken, we fear that the situation will escalate, and we may be forced to take drastic measures that could disrupt transportation services. We cannot continue to operate under these unsustainable conditions.”

 

They urged the relevant ministries and parliamentary committees to ensure that spare parts dealers adhere to their commitments, stressing that the survival of the transport industry—and by extension, the economy—depends on swift action.

 

“Failure to address this pressing issue will have severe consequences for our industry and the economy as a whole,” the statement concluded.

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GoldBod Unveils Bold Reforms to Transform Ghana’s Mining Sector

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The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, has announced sweeping reforms and strategic initiatives to position Ghana’s mining sector as a globally competitive and sustainable industry.

 

Speaking at the maiden edition of the Mining and Minerals Convention at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel, Mr. Gyamfi said the GoldBod was driving a paradigm shift from raw mineral extraction to value retention, with the goal of maximising national benefit from Ghana’s mineral wealth.

 

Between January and August 2025, small-scale gold exports facilitated by GoldBod reached a record 66.7 tonnes valued at $6 billion, surpassing the entire 2024 figure of 63 tonnes worth $4.6 billion. For the first time, small-scale gold exports outperformed large-scale mining exports over the same period.

 

Key reforms announced include:

 

Aggressive licensing reforms to promote responsible sourcing.

 

Scrapping of the 1.5% withholding tax on unprocessed small-scale gold.

 

Introduction of a nationwide traceability system to ensure transparency and compliance.

 

Partnerships requiring large-scale miners to supply 20% of their output to the Bank of Ghana for reserve accumulation.

 

 

To combat illegal mining, the GoldBod has pledged ₵5 million and five Toyota Hilux pickups to enforcement agencies, alongside a program to reclaim 1,000 hectares of degraded forest reserves beginning November 2025.

 

On value addition, Mr. Gyamfi announced plans for a state-owned gold refinery and an ISO-certified Assay Laboratory at Kotoka International Airport. Discussions are also underway to establish a “Gold Village” as a continental hub for jewellery production.

 

Calling for stronger investment, he urged local banks, pension funds, and financiers to channel resources into mining, stressing Africa’s need to transition from raw exports to beneficiation, from middlemen to tech-driven trade, and from youth as labourers to youth as innovators and owners.

 

“Ghana is resetting and Africa is rising. The GoldBod is ready. All we need now is courage and capital. Let us fund the minerals and mining sector differently. Let us transform it together,” Mr. Gyamfi concluded.

 

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