Bill proposed in Ghana focuses on enhancing gender inclusivity and fortifying tech startups led by women through the Innovation Act.
Ghana's Innovation and Startups Bill, set to be passed by December 2025, is poised to revolutionise the country's startup landscape, with a particular focus on fostering gender inclusivity within the tech industry.
The bill, introduced in 2020, aims to create a clear legal definition of startups, offer tax incentives, and establish the Ghana Innovation Agency, all geared towards boosting the overall innovation ecosystem and startup growth. However, it is the emphasis on inclusive growth that sets this bill apart.
Josiah Eyison, an innovation strategist, believes the bill is a crucial step towards creating an environment conducive to the growth of startups, particularly for women. Eyison emphasises the need for early-stage STEM education, equitable access to funding for women-led startups, industry mentorship and networking, inclusive hiring practices in tech companies, equal pay, family-friendly work environments, and public-private partnerships to drive greater female participation in tech.
The bill is part of broader efforts to ensure the innovation ecosystem benefits historically underrepresented groups, including women. It focuses on inclusive development, particularly for youth and marginalised groups, and provides structured support through the Ghana Innovation Agency to provide ecosystem players with resources, potentially including targeted programs for women-led startups.
Expected outcomes related to gender inclusivity and female-led startups include enhanced access to funding and resources, improved capacity building and skill development opportunities, and greater visibility and integration of women-led startups into Ghana’s innovation ecosystem.
However, policy alone is not enough. As noted by Eyison, there must be strong execution, monitoring, and accountability to ensure that these provisions lead to tangible outcomes. Focused initiatives such as grants, specialized training, and leadership opportunities for women in tech will be critical in addressing the gender imbalance.
Eric Adjei, CEO of Ghana's National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, states that the Innovation and Startups Bill provides the necessary framework for furthering startup growth and increasing female participation in the sector. The bill's success in promoting gender inclusivity will depend on well-thought-out policies and strong enforcement, according to Adjei.
Ghana ranks third in Africa in terms of female-led ventures, and the bill is expected to increase the number of women entrepreneurs in Ghana's tech industry. However, women are still underrepresented in the tech sector, with only 44% of local MSMEs owned by women.
If Ghana can create an inclusive and enforceable Startup Bill, it could position itself as West Africa's leading startup hub. But it's crucial that the bill is not just a policy on paper but a functional system with clear timelines, enforcement mechanisms, and accountability structures, as emphasised by Ethel Delali Cofie.
The World Bank report indicates that most women-owned businesses in Ghana still struggle with access to key resources. The Innovation and Startups Bill aims to address this issue by providing startups with tax incentives, streamlined registration, and easier access to funding.
In conclusion, the Innovation and Startups Bill is a significant step towards creating a more inclusive and innovative startup ecosystem in Ghana. However, its success will depend on the effective implementation and enforcement of its provisions, particularly those aimed at promoting gender inclusivity and supporting female-led startups.
- The Ghana Innovation and Startups Bill, focused on fostering gender inclusivity within the tech industry, aims to boost the overall innovation ecosystem and startup growth.
- Josiah Eyison believes the bill will create an environment favorable to startup growth, specifically for women, by pushing for early-stage STEM education, equitable funding access, industry mentorship, and inclusive hiring practices.
- The bill focuses on inclusive development, providing targeted support to historically underrepresented groups, including women, through the Ghana Innovation Agency and its structured programs.
- Expected outcomes include enhanced access to funding and resources, improved capacity building, and greater visibility for women-led startups in Ghana's innovation ecosystem.
- Strong execution, monitoring, and accountability are essential to ensure that the bill's provisions lead to tangible improvements, with focused initiatives like grants and specialized training key to addressing the gender imbalance.
- The CEO of Ghana's National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, Eric Adjei, asserts that the bill's success will depend on well-thought-out policies and strong enforcement.
- Ghana ranks third in Africa for female-led ventures, but women are still underrepresented in the tech sector, with only 44% of local MSMEs owned by women.
- The bill aims to address the issue of resource access with tax incentives, streamlined registration, and easier access to funding for startups, including women-led startups.
- For Ghana to position itself as West Africa's leading startup hub, it must ensure that the bill is not just a policy on paper but a functional system with clear timelines, enforcement mechanisms, and accountability structures, as emphasized by Ethel Delali Cofie.
