Characteristics of micro, small and medium enterprises in Ghana: gender and implications for economic growth

Abstract

This paper sought to investigate the characteristics of MSMEs and to suggest ways of improving performance, particularly tackling constraints faced by women and youth entrepreneurs in Ghana. A total of 4 433 MSME operators were interviewed in all the ten regions of Ghana using a structured questionnaire. The study revealed that apprenticeship was the most common form of training received by the MSME operators interviewed. Disaggregating data by gender, it was observed that more men had received training in their business operations than women. Close to 90% of the MSMEs were under sole proprietorship. There was significant correlation between gender and scale of enterprises, with increasing numbers of men as scale of operations increased. Women, who dominated the agro-processing, agro-industrial and services sectors, were constrained by ineffective marketing strategies, lack of capital, inadequate equipment and machinery, lack of improved technology, inadequate training and low skill development. Marketing strategies employed by the majority of women were limited, mostly patronising markets within their respective districts of business operations. The study recommended support for women to access sizeable business credit with flexible payment plans, tailor-made skill development training and improved access to institutional markets with quality and well-packaged products.