According to Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, Government Statistician, women play a vital role in Ghana's business sector, managing 56.3% of enterprise establishments and owning 84% of businesses operating at fixed open locations. This information was revealed at the launch of the Ghana in Numbers 2025 report in Accra on October 29, 2026. The report highlights the significant contribution of women to the country's economy, particularly among enterprises operating outside conventional business premises.
The 2024 national enterprise count recorded a total of 2.64 million businesses across Ghana. This exercise was the first of its kind to include businesses operating inside buildings, at fixed open locations, and those moving around, such as mobile traders. Out of the 2.64 million enterprises recorded, about 1.87 million operated inside buildings, nearly 694,000 operated at fixed open locations, while approximately 83,000 were mobile businesses.
Dr. Iddrisu noted that the number of establishments operating inside buildings had nearly tripled between 2014 and 2024, while the number of people employed by them had only doubled. This suggests that business establishments are growing faster than the jobs they create. The Government Statistician emphasized the importance of understanding these trends to develop effective policies.
The majority of businesses in Ghana are small, with nine out of every 10 establishments employing between one and five people. Only 4,874 establishments employed 100 or more people, but these businesses accounted for one in every five workers. This highlights the dominance of small businesses in the country's economy and the need for support for these enterprises.
However, the level of informality in Ghana's business sector is significant, with only 7.7% of the recorded establishments formally registered. This leaves about 92% of businesses operating outside the formal business system. Dr. Iddrisu called for measures to address this situation, emphasizing the need for policies to support enterprise growth and job creation.
The report also revealed that 37.2% of establishments used digital financial services, indicating the extent to which businesses are adopting digital finance. This trend highlights the growing importance of technology in Ghana's business sector and the potential for digital solutions to support enterprise growth.
The enterprise count provides important information on the number, location, size, and formal status of businesses in Ghana. Dr. Iddrisu stressed that the findings would help policymakers better understand the business environment and develop policies to support enterprise growth and job creation. The report's insights will be crucial in shaping Ghana's economic development strategies.
Key points
- Women manage 56.3% of Ghana's businesses and own 84% of open-space enterprises.
- The majority of businesses in Ghana are small, employing between one and five people.
- Only 7.7% of Ghana's businesses are formally registered, highlighting the need for measures to address informality.
