Ghana’s Startups Bill set to promote women in tech
Ghana is poised to become a formidable African state when it comes to emerging technology companies.
The country is currently conducting deliberations on its Innovation and Startups Bill, promulgated in 2020, which has the opportunity to promote gender inclusivity and support the inception of more female-led startups.
According to Ghana’s Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, the bill aims to promote creativity, innovation, and new technologies while achieving substantial added value and competitiveness.
In addition, the bill is set to provide startups with tax incentives, seamless registration and funding access, which is something many have been grappling with resulting in only a few established startups.
Bolstering longevity of women-led startups
Women play a pivotal role in Ghana’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector, but the World Bank estimates that only 44% of local MSMEs are owned by women.
According to a World Bank report, Ghana has made significant strides in closing the gender divide, particularly in the business sector, where 65% of women participate in the labor market compared to an average of 63% in other sub-Saharan African countries. However, the vast majority of women-owned businesses still lack access to fundamental assets to improve their productivity for higher revenues, and this is particularly true for women living in rural areas.
Josiah Eyison, innovation strategist, co-founder and chief visionary officer of iSpace Foundation, said the Innovation and Startups Bill is a much-needed step toward creating an enabling environment for startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators. He believes that one of the bill’s key priorities is gender inclusivity – ensuring that women-led startups receive the necessary support to thrive.
“The gender disparity in tech is a global challenge, and Ghana is no exception. Some of the key reasons fueling the gender divide include cultural and societal biases, limited access to funding, lack of mentorship, representation, and workplace challenges,” Eyison told Connecting Africa in an interview.
“Addressing these issues requires policy-driven interventions, industry-wide commitment, and cultural shifts to encourage more women to pursue and sustain careers in tech,” he added.
In 2003, the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE) was established through a partnership between Ghana and India meant to stimulate growth within the tech industry. Since its establishment, GI-KACE has played a pivotal role in the uplifting of women and girls when it comes to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), championing gender equity as a core pillar of its strategic direction through projects such as eSkills4Jobs and the annual Females in ICT (FEMITECH) conference, and equipping women with the necessary skills to start and run a tech business.
Speaking to Connecting Africa, Eric Adjei, CEO of Ghana’s National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), said the Innovation and Startups Bill is a necessary framework toward the realization of even more startups and female involvement in the sector.
“This bill is a crucial step toward promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. By establishing a structured framework for startups, it fosters a more supportive environment for growth, investment, and technological progress,” said Adjei.
“If properly executed, the bill could introduce incentives for women-led startups, improve access to funding, and offer mentorship programs, all of which are essential in reducing the gender gap in tech. Inclusive policies will encourage more women to enter and thrive in the sector,” he added.
Implementation key to bill’s success
Though Ghana has established several measures to ensure gender parity through initiatives such as the Affirmative Action Act, and the establishment of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, this hasn’t been enough to tackle gender equality, particularly when it comes tech and commerce.
Regardless of not being fully pledged to the empowerment of women-led startups, the Innovation and Startups Bill is set to mark a significance progress toward the empowerment of women in business and STEM.
“While the bill is a positive development, its effectiveness in promoting gender inclusivity will depend on deliberate policies and strong enforcement. Focused initiatives such as grants, specialized training, and leadership opportunities for women in tech will be essential in addressing the imbalance,” said Adjei.
Furthermore, Eyison said there is a correlation between having more women in tech and an increase in diverse perspectives, better problem-solving, and higher economic growth, and these can all be realized if the Bill lives to its purpose.
“If properly implemented, the bill lays the foundation for gender inclusivity through financial incentives, market access, and training programs. However, policy alone is not enough; there must be strong execution, monitoring, and accountability to ensure that these provisions translate into real impact,” Eyison added.
Measures to ensure gender equity within tech
Many African countries have learned in hindsight about the effects of gender bias, and Ghana is no exception.
To ensure that there won’t be any form of discrimination, the bill needs to put solid countermeasures in place, according to Adjei and Eyison.
“Encouraging STEM education among young girls, establishing mentorship programs, and ensuring equal funding opportunities for female-led startups are key measures. Increasing women’s involvement in tech will introduce diverse perspectives, fuel innovation, and contribute to the nation’s digital transformation,” Adjei said.
Experts believe that if properly executed, Ghana’s Innovation and Startups Bill could introduce incentives for women-led startups and improve access to funding. (Source: Image by benzoix on Freepik)
Eyison said that although the Innovation and Startups Bill is a bold step toward addressing the challenges faced by startups and innovators, especially women in tech, execution is key.
“To drive greater female participation in tech, we must focus on early-stage STEM education, funding and investment by ensuring women-led startups have equitable access to funding and resources, industry mentorship and networking, workplace policies by encouraging tech companies to adopt inclusive hiring practices, equal pay, and family-friendly work environments, as well as public-private partnerships,” Eyison said.
According to Ethel Delali Cofie, CEO and founder of EDEL Technology Consulting, Ghana is on the brink of a potentially transformative moment for its entrepreneurial ecosystem but must approach the bill with both optimism and caution.
“Ghana must ensure that the Startup Bill is not just a policy on paper but a functional system with clear timelines, enforcement mechanisms, and accountability structures,” Cofie said.
“If Ghana can craft a well-designed, 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,” she added.
According to the Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs, Ghana is ranked third in Africa when it comes to the number of female-led ventures and, if passed into law, the Innovation and Startups Bill will likely see the presence of more female entrepreneurs in the country’s tech industry.
