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A golden moment for Ghanaian SMEs Deputy GEXIM CEO

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The Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday July. 16, 2024, launched a ground breaking initiative which sought to assist Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises to scale up and build their capacity to make them sustainable and compete favourably in the international marketplace.

 It is dubbed the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Growth & Opportunity Programme or SME GO Programme.  

The event was launched by the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City Accra and attended by all key and relevant stakeholders in the SME, Banking and Finance sectors. 

On the sidelines of the event, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export – Import Bank, Ms. Rosemary Beryl Archer described the SME GO Programme, as a “Golden Moment” for Ghanaian SMEs and affiliated sectors.  

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Available data by the Ministry of Finance indicate that Ghanaian SMEs account for 92 percent of existing companies, 85 percent of manufacturing jobs and 70 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 

Knowing its strategic importance to economic development, the Government is focused on developing a sustainable financing framework that allows for both public and private sectors to scale up financial and technical support towards Ghanaian SMEs.  

In recent times, the world has experienced challenges and businesses were not spared. Unfortunately, SMEs are the hardest hit, with Ghanaian SMEs not an exception.

 Government is determined to address these challenges, particularly access to financing, which have become inimical to advancing broad-based SME development. 

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Through the SME GO Programme, the Ministry of Finance aims to support the delivery of a robust SME financing programme that brings Ghana closer to its growth potential of approximately 5%.

The SME GO Programme offers targeted financial and technical support to high-growth potential SMEs to accelerate their growth by various interventions through short and medium term support through, including technical training and handholding support for beneficiaries, and optimizing public policies.

 The financial support package, with flexible financing options, is to enable businesses to obtain the necessary resources to scale their operations effectively.

Three state agencies have been selected as strategic partners for the implementation of the programme which is to help the Government to create a lasting initiative and also develop a permanent infrastructure to support SMEs and ensure a sustainable impact on the ecosystem. They are the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM), Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) and the Development Bank of Ghana (DBG).

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The Ghana Enterprises Agency is to work closely with SMEs to assess their financing and capacity building requirements and provide targeted support. Leveraging its expertise and network, the Ghana Export – Import Bank will facilitate access to financial and technical services to meet the diverse needs of export ready SMEs.

 The Development Bank of Ghana is collaborating with the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank to work with participating financial institutions (PFIs) to launch a SME catalytic fund that will deliver larger multiples of finance required for SMEs to continue to scale their operations.

Technical assistance in the form of training and support is a key part of the SME GO Programme with the Ghana Export – Import Bank championing a collaboration with other agencies and stakeholders to set up an ultramodern Food Processing Pilot Plant in Accra, Ghana. 

This will help enterprises with manufacturing solutions by testing their production and scaling up ideas in a standardized food processing pilot plant.

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The financial and technical support to be provided to SMEs through the dedicated funds created by each institution under the SME GO Programme is the first step towards strengthening the SME ecosystem with the introduction of transformative measures. 

In addition, regulatory and operational initiatives are being prepared to be enacted later when the immediate support required has been provided. The envisaged measures range from the creation of a one-stop-shop for SMEs to the design of business enclaves providing SMEs with fiscal incentives, financial resources and shared technology.

Ms. Archer concluded that it was her wish for Ghanaian SMEs across various sectors to prioritise value addition. A systematic approach to value chain development will result in the elimination of underlying causes of market underperformance, which is definitely going to be a game-changer. 

“We now need to take a look at how our businesses can bring a product from the initial idea to its final market.Why should we strengthen the value chain across sectors? This definitely holds the key to increasing profits and productivity for SMEs, and making them sustainable by withstanding disruptions at all times. Ultimately, this will also lead to an increased contribution to socio-economic development of Ghanaian SMEs,” he added.

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Edwina Anokye-Bempah Redefining Trust in Ghana’s Real Estate Landscape

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Edwina Anokye-Bempah
Edwina Anokye-Bempah

Every morning begins the same way for Edwina Anokye-Bempah, with quiet devotion. It is her grounding ritual, a moment of reflection and gratitude before she steps into the dynamic, often unpredictable world of real estate brokerage.

By the time she arrives at the office, she has already set the tone for her day. She reviews the previous day’s tasks, checks what was accomplished and what still needs attention, and then drafts a new to-do list. For her, success is rooted in deliberate planning, discipline, and the commitment to follow through.

Edwina at a site

Today, Edwina stands out as one of Ghana’s promising real estate brokers, but she is also clear about the distinctions within her field. While many people casually use the term ‘realtor,’ she is quick to explain that only professionals registered with the National Association of Realtors can claim that title.

“Since I am not registered with the association, I am a real estate broker,” she says. It is a role she embraces wholeheartedly, facilitating transactions, connecting buyers and sellers, and ensuring clarity and integrity at every step.

Her journey into the industry took shape at MeQasa, an online platform dedicated solely to real estate. The platform exposed her to developers, agents, and the complexities of property transactions. She worked closely with developers and observed one recurring problem: clients often complained about agents who failed to respond, follow up, or provide accurate information.

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With her background in sales and marketing, Edwina felt naturally drawn to the field. It was an industry where she believed she could make a meaningful, positive impact. Real estate, she came to learn, is far more than brick and mortar. It is about helping people secure one of the most important investments of their lives. This understanding shapes every decision she makes.

One of the most challenging tasks in her work is qualifying clients.

“A serious buyer must be willing, ready and able,” she explains. When one of these three qualities is missing, the transaction is likely to stall or collapse entirely.

• Edwina interpreting at church
Edwina at a warehouse

On the seller’s side, due diligence is equally critical. Ownership disputes, land fraud, and unclear documentation remain some of the biggest risks in Ghana’s real estate sector.

Edwina understands the weight of the responsibility she carries. “The money involved is huge. These are people’s lifetime savings. Most people buy one home or maybe two in their entire lives. You cannot afford to make a mistake.”

Working in what many describe as a male-dominated field has never intimidated her. With an MBA in Marketing and extensive experience in sales roles including a stint as an Account Manager in an advertising agency, she has grown comfortable handling clients, negotiating deals, and presenting herself with confidence.

“My gender has never discouraged me,” she says. “What matters is hard work and ensuring that the client’s needs were met.”

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Edwina Anokye-Bempah

The only occasional challenge, she admits, was maintaining professional boundaries when some men attempt to be overly familiar. Her solution is simple: stay professional and do not over-familiarise yourself with clients.

Her educational journey started in Kumasi, followed by Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Senior High School, where she studied Agricultural Science. She continued the same at the University of Ghana before pursuing her master’s degree. After university, she worked on her uncle’s poultry farm before moving into advertising. Later, her role at MeQasa finally opened the door to the career she had long been unknowingly preparing for.

Over the years, Edwina has built a reputation not only for competence but also for care. She recalls one client in particular, an older man relocating to Ghana with no family in the country. After helping him secure two homes, she became the closest person he could rely on. One evening at around 8 p.m., he called to say he felt unwell. Without hesitation, she drove to his home and rushed him to the hospital. Doctors later told her that any delay could have been fatal.

For Edwina, that moment affirmed that the job goes far beyond selling property. “It doesn’t end with the sale,” she says. “You have to look out for people.”

Her influence also extends to younger people observing her journey. She is known for her tenacity, her refusal to give up on clients or tasks, and her resilience in the face of challenges. Those who work around her learn to push forward regardless of setbacks.

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“If a deal doesn’t go as expected, you don’t look back. You find a way.”

Beyond real estate, Edwina serves as an interpreter in her church, a role that dramatically boosted her confidence. What began with trembling legs has evolved into a boldness that reflects in her public speaking and client interactions. She credits her growth to God, her senior pastor, her mother, siblings, friends, and her dedicated team — “an amazing circle,” she calls them.

Today, she is also a partner in a showroom business dealing in vanity units, sanitary wares, and tiles, an extension of her real estate insight and experience.

For young people aspiring to join the industry, her advice is clear: “Learn the industry beyond selling. Understand transactions, build strong relationships, and always do your due diligence.”

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For Edwina Anokye-Bempah, real estate is more than business; it is trust, service, and impact, one client at a time.

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu

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Worshippers Thrilled at 2nd Aseda Musical Concert

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• Some group ministering
• Some group ministering

The Rev. I.K. Asuamah Thompson Memorial Methodist Church on Saturday hosted the second edition of the annual ‘Aseda’ musical concert, a vibrant celebration of gratitude led by the church’s Singing Band.

This year’s service also featured invited groups across the Methodist Church, whose harmonious performances added depth and colour to the worship experience.

Participating groups included the Bread of Life Singing Band, Mount Zion, Resurrection Methodist Band, Gethsemane, and St Mary’s Singing Band, among others. Their blended harmonies, rich choral interludes, and stirring renditions created an atmosphere of spirit-filled praise and collective thanksgiving.

The event brought together church members, choirs, and invited guests in a spirited celebration that blended music, scripture, and reflection, thereby reaffirming the church’s commitment to worship and communal thanksgiving.

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Speaking at the celebration, the Head Pastor, Very Rev. Mrs Naana Esi Dannyame, said this year’s event focused on the theme ‘Fruit of the Lips’, drawn from Hebrews, 1 Thessalonians, and Psalm 103.

She explained that the event was designed to help the congregation deliberately reflect on God’s goodness. According to her, thanksgiving is not measured in material gifts but in the sincerity of one’s worship. “We gather to recount God’s goodness, His protection, forgiveness, mercy and preservation of life. Scripture calls us not to forget His benefits,” she said.

Very Rev. Dannyame commended the singing band and invited choir groups for leading the congregation in heartfelt worship, noting that the focus of the occasion was Christ, “who loved us and gave Himself for us.”

The President of the Christ Little Band of the church, Mr Emmanuel Addo, urged Christians to embrace gratitude as a core value in their daily walk with God.

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He said the overarching theme, ‘Full of Values’, underscored the power and purpose of deliberate praise.

Mr Addo emphasised that believers were called to offer God a continual “sacrifice of praise” through Jesus Christ, describing worship as a living testimony of gratitude and devotion.

He also encouraged the congregation to let every melody and lyric magnify God and inspire unity, joy, and hope.

By Eugene Ampiaw

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