Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) CEO Margaret Ansei has called for widespread adoption of digital tools to eliminate inefficiencies plaguing small businesses, framing technology as the linchpin of the government’s flagship 24-hour economy agenda.
Speaking at the Kwahu Business Forum, Ansei warned that operational waste costing firms nearly 30% in productivity losses threatens to derail economic transformation unless urgently addressed through innovations like the agency’s U-SPARK platform.
The U-SPARK initiative, developed with the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), equips micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with real-time performance tracking systems to identify and reduce quality, availability, and workflow deficits. Pilot data revealed participating businesses cut losses by 36% while boosting efficiency, though Ansei noted broader audits exposed alarming gaps: some firms hemorrhage up to 17.9% of sales and 28% of productivity due to outdated practices. “A 24-hour economy built on inefficiency is unsustainable,” she asserted. “Digitization isn’t optional it’s survival.”
With MSMEs constituting over 90% of Ghana’s businesses and employing 80% of its workforce, Ansei positioned the GEA’s “RESET AGENDA” as critical to inclusive growth. The plan includes tailored financing for women, youth, and entrepreneurs with disabilities, alongside digitization training programs aimed at formalizing informal sectors. Notably, the agency is deploying mobile tools to help rural businesses track inventory, manage payroll, and comply with tax regulations steps seen as foundational for scaling operations around the clock.
The push aligns with President John Mahama’s vision of a round-the-clock economy designed to stimulate job creation and attract investment. Yet challenges persist: only 12% of Ghanaian MSMEs currently use digital management systems, per GEA estimates, while erratic power supplies and internet connectivity gaps hinder tech adoption outside urban hubs.
Ansei’s appeal resonated at the Kwahu Forum, where bankers, policymakers, and development partners debated solutions to industrial bottlenecks. Discussions highlighted the need for affordable financing to offset upfront costs of automation, as well as regulatory reforms to ease cross-sector data sharing. “MSMEs can’t digitize in isolation,” said Kwame Osei-Prempeh of the Association of Ghana Industries. “They require ecosystems where suppliers, distributors, and clients all operate on integrated platforms.”
Critics, however, question whether top-down tech drives adequately reflect grassroots realities. “Many traders still rely on paper ledgers because they distrust or don’t understand digital systems,” noted Accra-based SME consultant Araba Mensah. “Training must bridge this literacy gap, not just distribute gadgets.”
The GEA’s strategy arrives amid broader efforts to position Ghana as West Africa’s digital hub, with initiatives like the National Digital Property Addressing System and the Ghana Card biometric ID aiming to formalize commerce. While skeptics cite past unfulfilled promises, Ansei remains bullish: “This is about building a legacy where no business is left offline.”
As Ghana’s MSMEs navigate post-pandemic recovery and global economic headwinds, the success of U-SPARK and similar tools may determine whether the 24-hour economy evolves from political rhetoric into tangible progress or becomes another casualty of the efficiency deficits it seeks to eradicate.
