Entrepreneurs: Catalysts of Economic Change – Nana Oye Bampoe

Government Focuses on Entrepreneurs for Economic Growth

The government has positioned entrepreneurs at the center of its economic transformation strategy, emphasizing new policy reforms, targeted financial support, and export assistance to foster growth. This was highlighted by Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff – Administration, during the National Kaizen Awards.

She outlined the government's approach, which includes reducing the tax burden on businesses, increasing access to affordable financing, and enhancing support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Her vision is one where government and entrepreneurs collaborate to achieve prosperity for all citizens.

As part of these efforts, the government has committed GH₡500 million in credit from Development Bank Ghana for agribusinesses and secured a US$100 million investment to create Africa’s first AI-powered agricultural hub. These initiatives were made possible through President Mahama’s recent visits to Japan and Singapore. The project aims to build upon an existing model that has already supported over 86,000 smallholder farmers across 122,000 acres nationwide.

Nana Oye Bampoe Addo also emphasized the importance of a ‘Made-in-Ghana’ agenda to strengthen local industries and enhance export competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Additionally, she mentioned plans for a Women’s Development Bank to support women-led firms and expanded training programs for young entrepreneurs through national apprenticeship initiatives.

She explained that Kaizen is more than just a philosophy of continuous improvement; it symbolizes the nation’s journey toward progress. “True progress is achieved through small, deliberate steps, daily discipline, and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” she said. She encouraged awardees to embrace the Kaizen principle, which reflects the essence of shared, sustainable, and transformative national development.

The National Kaizen Awards were organized by the Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA) and the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI). GEA has integrated Kaizen into its core operations, leading to more than 33,478 micro and small enterprises receiving fundamental training in Kaizen through partnerships with various development partners.

A key highlight of the awards ceremony was the launch of the UNIDO Smart Performance Analytics for Real-time Kaizen (U-SPARK) project. This initiative, implemented by GEA in collaboration with UNIDO and funded by the Government of Japan, aims to support the government’s 24-hour economy initiative. According to Ms. Margaret Ansei, CEO of GEA, the U-SPARK project will help enterprises adopt technology-driven efficiency and expand production capacity around the clock.

She added that initiatives like the Kaizen Awards and U-SPARK pilot are transforming productivity thinking among MSMEs. As Ghana moves toward a 24-hour economy, digitally empowered firms will play a crucial role in driving innovation and national competitiveness.

Japan’s ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, highlighted the renewed emphasis on co-creating innovative solutions to address Africa’s development challenges during the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9). He noted that this aligns perfectly with the purpose of the National Kaizen Awards, which focus on MSMEs, the backbone of Ghana’s economy.

He also mentioned the partnership between GEA and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as an example of creative collaboration encouraged during TICAD 9. Suzuki Momoko, Chief Representative of JICA Ghana, acknowledged that the government’s ‘24-Hour Economy’ program offers new opportunities to expand Kaizen. With support from MOTAI and other ministries, along with strategic partners like UNIDO, the Mastercard Foundation, and private sector associations, Kaizen can reach more businesses and industries.

Prof. Elijah Yendaw, Director-General of MDPI, emphasized that Ghana’s aspirations for industrial transformation, job creation, and global competitiveness are directly linked to productivity growth. He stated that Kaizen provides a practical pathway to achieve these goals, and as the country moves toward a more resilient and inclusive economy, Kaizen will continue to shape how work, innovation, and service are approached.

During the event, ODINA Couture was recognized for the micro and small category, while AMANEX Company Limited received the award for the medium category.