Tamale: The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Feed the Future Ghana Market Systems and Resilience (MSR) Activity has presented business registration certificates to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), formalising their operations in the country.

According to Ghana News Agency, a total of 77 businesses benefited from this initiative, including nine from Gushegu, 17 from Karaga, 12 from Mion, nine from Nanton, 12 from Yendi, and 18 from Sagnarigu, with women making up 97 percent of the participants. About 84 percent of these businesses are engaged in the processing and production, marketing, and aggregation of agricultural produce such as soybeans, groundnut, rice, maize, vegetables, and livestock rearing.

The formalisation initiative is expected to benefit 300 MSMEs primarily owned by women, youth, and people with disabilities. It aims to enhance their competitiveness, increase their incomes, and contribute to the economic development of their communities. Mr. Glenn Lines
, Chief of Party, Ghana MSR Activity, speaking at the event in Tamale, commended the MSMEs for embracing formalisation and skills development, which he said would help improve their operations. He assured the beneficiaries that the initiative would be scaled up to more entrepreneurs and build a more inclusive and resilient economy through MSME development.

Mr. Musa Taylor, Capacity Building Team Lead, Ghana MSR Activity, highlighted the necessity of formalising the MSMEs, as many lacked registration, hindering their ability to access new markets, secure investments, and comply with regulatory requirements. He mentioned that the MSMEs had been equipped to keep records, which is crucial for their growth and development.

Madam Ateni Akparib, a beneficiary, praised the initiative, noting that before participating in the Ghana MSR Activity, she lacked knowledge on record-keeping and business management. She shared that through the initiative, she had gained valuable insights and skills, including the use of reco
rd-keeping books to track her business operations.

The USAID-funded Ghana MSR Activity is a comprehensive initiative aimed at transforming market systems to support agricultural growth and increase resilience in northern Ghana.