Ghana's Innovation Legislation Pushed to Bolster Gender Equality and Nurture Female-led Tech Enterprises
The Ghana Innovation and Startups Bill, currently under discussion, aims to significantly promote gender inclusivity and support female-led startups, creating a more enabling policy environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Ghana Hubs Network and partners strongly advocate for the bill’s swift passage, stressing its necessity for a supportive innovation ecosystem that boosts youth and women entrepreneurs. A Gender-Responsive Toolkit, launched in collaboration with GIZ and GFA Consulting Group, aims to promote the inclusion of women and persons with disabilities in innovation spaces.
The bill is expected to amplify current efforts that have trained over 12,000 youth and women and supported more than 6,000 startups and small businesses across Ghana, many of which are female-led or women-inclusive enterprises. Government and partners like NEIP have reiterated commitments to strengthen innovation hubs and improve access to funding, mentorship, and markets — critical factors for female entrepreneurs who often face hurdles in these areas.
Eric Adjei, CEO of Ghana's National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), believes the Innovation and Startups Bill provides the necessary framework for furthering startup growth and increasing female participation in the sector. Ghana has made progress in narrowing the gender gap in business, with 65% of women part of the labor market.
However, Cofie emphasises the importance of ensuring that the Startup Bill is not just a policy on paper but a fully functional system with clear timelines, enforcement mechanisms, and accountability structures. The World Bank report indicates that most women-owned businesses in Ghana still struggle with access to key resources needed to enhance productivity and increase revenue, particularly in rural areas.
To drive greater female participation in tech, Eyison suggests focusing on early-stage STEM education, ensuring equitable access to funding for women-led startups, providing industry mentorship and networking, promoting inclusive hiring practices in tech companies, ensuring equal pay, offering family-friendly work environments, and establishing public-private partnerships.
If Ghana can create an inclusive and enforceable Startup Bill, it could position itself as West Africa's leading startup hub, attracting investment, fostering innovation, and creating sustainable jobs for future generations. The Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs ranks Ghana third in Africa in terms of female-led ventures, and the Innovation and Startups Bill is expected to increase the number of women entrepreneurs in the country's tech industry if passed into law.
The Innovation and Startups Bill, introduced in 2020, is currently being deliberated in Ghana. Josiah Eyison, an innovation strategist and co-founder of iSpace Foundation, emphasises the Innovation and Startups Bill is a crucial step toward creating an environment conducive to the growth of startups and women-led startups. If properly implemented, the bill could boost Ghana's aim to become a leading African nation in terms of emerging technology companies and add substantial value to its economy.
Increasing women's involvement in tech will introduce diverse perspectives, fuel innovation, and contribute to the country's digital transformation. Eyison argues that the successful execution of the bill is crucial to drive greater female participation in tech, positioning Ghana as a regional leader in gender-sensitive startup policy frameworks.
The Ghana Innovation and Startups Bill, currently being deliberated, seeks to enhance technology integration and encourage education-and-self-development by providing a supportive environment for female-led startups, thereby fostering general-news-worthy innovation and entrepreneurship.
The bill's implementation, emphasized by innovation strategist Josiah Eyison, holds the potential to drive a digital transformation in Ghana, with increased female participation in technology expected to introduce diversity, bolster innovation, and promote lifestyle changes by establishing Ghana as a regional leader in gender-sensitive technology companies.
