What are business support organisations?
Business support organisations (BSOs) aim to assist business owners in starting, growing, and advancing. They are organisations that provide services such as business planning and advice, networking opportunities, training and development, access to funding, advocacy and representation, and business incubators to boost entrepreneurship and economic growth.
What do business support organisations do?
If you have just started a sole proprietorship or a company, the first step you need to take is to register your business. [Read Also…Registering a Sole Proprietorship Business in 2023] After registering your business and meeting all other compliance requirements, there are several support organisations to help your business grow with the help of funding, network opportunities, training, and incubation, among others. Whether you are starting a company, a sole proprietorship, or any other form of business, it’s important to tap into these opportunities to grow your business.
Business Support Organisations in Ghana
Government organisations that provide business support services in Ghana
Many government organisations in Ghana provide various forms of support to business owners and entrepreneurs, such as funding, education, networking opportunities, and business strategy guidance. Among these are:
1. Registrar General’s Department (RGD):
The RGD is a government agency in charge of business registration, industrial property registration, marriage registration, estate administration, and public trustees. It also issues certificates of incorporation, registers business names, maintains a database of registered firms, as well as provides notary services, authentication services, and certificates of origin.
2. The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA):
The FDA is responsible for developing and enforcing regulations governing the sale of food, herbal remedies, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and household chemicals. It also provides business support to industries by supervising product registration and certification processes, developing regulations and guidelines, inspecting products and issuing warnings or fines.
3. Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC):
As a primary government support organisation, GIPC is in charge of promoting and facilitating investments in Ghana by offering information and advice and enhancing the investment climate in the country. GIPC provides support with travel, meetings with government representatives, setting up your business in Ghana, and integrating into the country.
4. Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA):
GEPA is in charge of promoting and facilitating exports in Ghana. They assist Ghanaian businesses in growing their export markets by providing them with export market information and export development
5. Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA):
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is responsible for collecting taxes and customs fees in Ghana, providing tax compliance guidance, and information on tax incentives and exemptions, and promoting good governance and accountability. It enforces tax laws and regulations and ensures everyone pays their fair share, creating a conducive business environment for investment and growth.
OTHERS
AGENCY | SERVICES THEY PROVIDE |
Ghana Immigration Service | processing visa applications and issuing work permits to foreign nationals |
Ministry of Interior | provides a safe and secure environment for business owners to operate, facilitates the entry and exit of people and goods, and develops policies and regulations that support business growth and development. |
Ministry of Business Development | provides business advisory services to help sole proprietors, to financing for small businesses, provides networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, and creates an environment that is supportive of small businesses. |
National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI) | Provides training, advisory support, financial accessibility, market research and analysis, and business incubation programs to sole proprietors; creates an enabling environment for sole proprietorship; advocates for policies that support growth; provide networking opportunities for them.
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Business Advisory Centre (BAC) | provides business development services to companies; provides funding support to businesses; helps businesses develop business plans and investment proposals; provides training and capacity-building programs to small businesses. |
Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) | oversees the observance of quality standards; provides testing, certification, and inspection services; provides technical support to companies in areas such as metrology, engineering, and laboratory services; offers training and capacity-building programs; facilitates trade and market linkages. |
Precious Minerals Marketing Company | provides accurate and reliable testing of precious minerals; provides export services to companies involved in the precious minerals trade; offers training and education programs to companies; provides valuable market intelligence to companies looking to enter the market or expand their operations; offers business advice and support to companies |
Petroleum Commission | grants licences, permits, and authorizations for petroleum exploration, development, and production activities; sets standards and guidelines for the industry; supports the growth and development of petroleum companies. |
National Petroleum Authority | issues licence and permits to petroleum companies; ensures that businesses can operate within a stable pricing environment; ensures safety in the downstream petroleum sector; provides information to petroleum companies |
In Ghana, government organisations play a critical role in supporting business growth and development, promoting investment, and creating a conducive business environment in the country.
Private sector organisations that provide business support services in Ghana
A lot of private sector companies in Ghana support start-up businesses with services such as incubation, development programmes, and consultation, which are essential for economic development and business growth. Find below some private sector organisations in Ghana that offer business support services:
1. MEST Africa:
MEST Africa is a training program that provides mentoring, funding, and networking opportunities to entrepreneurs in the technology industry. It provides seed funds and incubators to help entrepreneurs develop their businesses; access to mentors, investors, and industry experts; and an angel investor network to connect tech startups with investors.
2. Accra Digital Centre:
The Accra Digital Centre (ADC) is a technology innovation hub and business incubator located in Accra, Ghana. It provides services and resources to support the growth and development of technology startups and SMEs in Ghana and the West African region. It offers incubation and acceleration programs, funding opportunities, business development services, and collaboration and networking among stakeholders in the technology ecosystem.
3. DANIDA:
The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), is a government agency responsible for providing development assistance to developing countries. DANIDA provides technical assistance, training, capacity building, financial support, and access to markets for sole proprietors and companies in developing countries. By providing these services, DANIDA is helping businesses grow and become more competitive in the global market.
4. Kosmos Innovation Centre:
Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) is a business support organisation focused on empowering young entrepreneurs in Ghana to develop innovative solutions. KIC provides training, mentorship, access to funding, and networking opportunities. Its flagship program, the AgriTech Challenge, brings together young innovators from across Ghana to develop technology-driven solutions to the challenges facing the agriculture sector. KIC provides funding to the winners of the challenge.
5. Association of Ghana Industries:
AGI is a business support organisation that promotes and protects the interests of businesses in Ghana. It provides a platform for members to network and collaborate, as well as help businesses develop their capabilities and improve their competitiveness. It also advocates for policies that create a conducive business environment, reduce bureaucracy and costs, and promote innovation and growth.
OTHERS
AGENCY | SERVICES THEY PROVIDE |
Business Sector Advocacy Challenge | Conducts research and analysis on key issues affecting the business sector; supports policies and regulations that benefit all forms of businesses. |
Japan External Trade Organisation | provides information and advice on doing business in different countries; provides support for companies seeking to establish a presence in foreign markets |
UK Trade and Investment | offers market research, export advice, and support with finding overseas partners and customers; provides access to trade missions, exhibitions, and events; guides companies to navigate international regulations and customs. |
West Africa Trade Hub | helps businesses connect with buyers and suppliers within the region and beyond; provides access to finance for business startups; advocates for policies that support trade and investment in the region
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Ghana Innovation Hub | offers business incubation, and co-working spaces to start-up companies in Ghana; provides networking, mentoring, and training opportunities for business owners. |
Impact Hub Accra | offers co-working spaces, training, mentoring, and networking opportunities; assists companies that have a favourable impact on society |
Ghana Tech Lab | promotes technology entrepreneurship; provides training, mentorship, and funding to technology companies; |
African Business Center for Developing Education | offers advisory services to businesses; assists companies with business planning, market research, and financial management. |
Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) | provides business support services such as training, mentorship, and access to funding.
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Nonetheless, these are just a few examples of Ghanaian private-sector organisations that provide business support services. There are numerous other organisations, both large and small, in Ghana that offer similar services to entrepreneurs and businesses.
NGOs that provide business support services in Ghana
The NGO sector in Ghana provides various business support services to industries, SMEs, and business owners. NGOs that offer business support services in Ghana include some of the following:
Several private NGOs in Ghana offer business support services. Here are some of them:
Opportunity International is a global nonprofit organisation that provides financial services and business help to those living in poverty in developing countries. It offers various types of business support such as money access, business training, financial management tools, market research, and networking.
TechnoServe is a global nonprofit organisation that partners with ambitious people in poor countries to help them build competitive farms, enterprises, and industries. In Ghana, TechnoServe offers training and mentoring, access to funding, market linkages, value chain development, and innovation and technology transfer.
The Empretec Ghana Foundation is a private-sector-led programme that provides training and mentoring to Ghanaian entrepreneurs. It assists talented sole proprietors in developing innovative and globally competitive SMEs and supports the creation of mutually beneficial economic relationships between SMEs and transnational enterprises.
4. African Aurora Business Network (AABN):
AABN is a Ghanaian Nonprofit that assists companies with business growth through funding, investment, networking, training, capacity building, advocacy, and policy support. It also advocates for policies and regulations that encourage entrepreneurship and private-sector development.
5. Ghana Climate Innovation Center (GCIC):
The Ghana Climate Innovation Center (GCIC) offers a variety of services to help business startups start and expand their businesses, including business incubation, investment opportunities, company acceleration services, training programmes, business coaching, and networking opportunities.
OTHERS
Ghana Center for Entrepreneurship, Employment, and Innovation | provides training, mentoring, and access to finance, business plan development, and market research, for business startups in Ghana |
African Management Services Company (AMSCO) | offer training, coaching, and mentoring to sole proprietors and companies; help businesses build their capacity and grow their operations. |
Enterprise Ghana | provides business development services to small and medium-sized enterprises; offers training, mentoring, and access to finance, helping SMEs become more competitive and sustainable.
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IntEnt
| assist migrant business owners to build viable businesses in their countries of origin |
Good Morning Africa
| provides access to resources to address any organisational need or impediment sole proprietors experience |
These are just a few examples of private NGOs in Ghana that offer business support services. There are many others, so it’s worth doing some research to find the ones that are best suited to your needs.
Online resources available to entrepreneurs and small business owners in Ghana
Here’s an overview of various online resources available to entrepreneurs and small business owners in Ghana:
1. Business directories:
In Ghana, there are numerous online business directories, including GhanaYellow, Ghana Business Directory, and Yellow Pages Ghana. These directories offer details on different companies operating in Ghana, including their contact details and the services they provide.
2. Social media groups:
Entrepreneurs and small business owners can join various groups on social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn to network with other businesspeople, exchange ideas, and get advice. The Ghana Startup Club, the Ghana SMEs Network, and the Ghana Entrepreneurship Forum are a few well-known organisations in Ghana.
3. Business news websites:
Ghana’s business environment is covered in daily news and updates on websites like Business Ghana, Ghana Business News, and GhanaWeb Business. These websites offer information on things like government regulations, market trends, and investment opportunities.
4. Online training platforms:
Courses on a range of business-related subjects, including digital marketing, entrepreneurship, and financial management, are available online through platforms like Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning. Entrepreneurs or small business owners can enrol in these courses at their convenience to develop their skills.
In general, Ghanaian entrepreneurs and small business owners can access online resources to stay informed, connected, and develop their skills.
Conclusion
To access business support, registration of your business (a sole proprietorship, company, or partnership) is important. When you register your business, you become eligible for support and investment opportunities from these organisations. Read also[How to register your business in Ghana: A step-by-step guide]
Send us an email today if you want to register your business.
