The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Francis Kojo Kwarteng Arthur, has reiterated the authority's commitment to promoting trade among women entrepreneurs.
That, he said, would create a more inclusive and empowering export industry in Ghana, where female-led businesses play a significant role in driving economic growth.
Women are pivotal in Africa's creative industries, particularly in the handicraft and fashion sectors. According to the International Trade Centre (ITC), women constitute approximately 70% of informal cross-border traders in Africa, with many engaged in the production and export of handmade goods.
In Ghana, women make up over 60% of the workforce in the handicraft and fashion industries, contributing significantly to the country's $100 million annual export revenue from creative arts.
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Courtesy call
Mr Arthur made these remarks when The SheTrades Hub Gambia delegation paid a courtesy call on the authority last Monday in Accra as part of a week-long tour to strengthen trade ties and promote collaboration between the two countries handicraft and fashion industries.
SheTrades Hub serves as a resource centre for women-led businesses, policymakers, business support organisations and private-sector partners to improve the business support ecosystem and foster a community of partners to enable women to succeed in trade.
He highlighted the strong trade ties between the two countries and the mutual commitment to empowering women in business, adding, "Since its launch less than a year ago, the SheTrades Ghana Hub has played a key role in providing women entrepreneurs with essential skills and knowledge to enhance their capabilities and maintain a competitive edge in both African and global markets".
"This tour represents another step towards empowering women entrepreneurs to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by these hubs in fostering collaboration and promoting intra-African trade. GEPA remains dedicated to promoting trade among women entrepreneurs, ensuring that our export industry is inclusive and empowering," he added.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the Senior Advisor, SheTrades Hubs - West Africa at the International Trade Centre (ITC), Fatou Mbenga Jallow, congratulated Mr Arthur on his appointment and expressed gratitude for GEPA's continuous support.
She explained that the visit would facilitate knowledge sharing and valuable business linkages between The Gambian and Ghanaian women entrepreneurs.
Week-long tour
The tour was organised by the United Kingdom (UK) Government-funded SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme at the International Trade Centre (ITC), in collaboration with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration & Employment (MOTIE) of The Gambia, which hosts the SheTrades Hub in Ghana and The Gambia respectively.
It is aimed at facilitating business-to-business (B2B) meetings and paving the way for future partnerships between Gambian and Ghanaian entrepreneurs.
Beyond networking, the tour allowed the delegation to witness cutting-edge production techniques at leading textile companies such as GTP in Tema, reinforcing the importance of quality standards and innovation in boosting exports.
The delegation interacted with industry associations such as the Association of Ghana Apparel Manufacturers (AGAM) and the National Association of Handicraft Exporters (NAHE), exploring opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The study tour concluded with a high-level networking session at the Africa Trade House, bringing together over 45 participants, including Ghanaian export companies, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) representatives and international trade stakeholders.