The Upper West Region has climbed seven places to sixth in Ghana’s 2026 Regional Entrepreneurship Freedom Index, emerging as one of the country’s fastest-improving business environments.
The region, which ranked 13th out of 16 regions in the 2024 edition, improved its score from 4.20 to 5.55, moving from the “Repressed” category into “Mostly Unfree”.
The latest ranking was published by the Africa Centre for Entrepreneurship and Youth Empowerment (ACEYE) in partnership with the Atlas Network.
The improvement is being seen as an indication of growing ease of doing business for traders, artisans, agro-processors and young entrepreneurs across the region.
The index assessed entrepreneurship conditions using data from 3,200 entrepreneurs across Ghana’s regional capitals, supported by 200 in-depth interviews conducted by 32 trained enumerators.
It examined 14 indicators covering areas including trade, taxation, property rights, regulation, finance, labour and technology.
Upper West’s strongest performance was in Trade Freedom, where it scored 5.83.
It also recorded relatively strong scores in Freedom from Government at 5.66 and Labour Freedom at 5.64.
However, access to finance and technology remained significant constraints.
The region scored 5.38 in Financial Freedom and 5.24 in Technological Freedom, with limited access to credit, the cost of technology and inadequate internet connectivity identified among the key challenges confronting businesses.
The Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Council said the latest ranking should not be treated simply as an achievement on a league table but as a guide for further reforms.
It said the findings provide an opportunity for regional and district authorities to identify barriers to entrepreneurship and take targeted measures to improve the business environment.
Among the recommendations are widening the tax base to reduce the burden on a relatively small number of formal businesses and involving entrepreneurs in decisions on local taxes and levies.
The report also calls for improved AfCFTA readiness, including periodic training for the Customs and Excise Preventive Service on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
It further recommends greater transparency in business support programmes, including Cash Transfer Programmes, to ensure that assistance reaches genuine beneficiaries.
District Assemblies have also been encouraged to strengthen local anti-corruption measures through bye-laws aimed at tackling extortion and bribery in the business environment.
The Regional Co-ordinating Council said it would work with ACEYE, the Atlas Network, District Assemblies and the private sector to translate the recommendations into concrete reforms.
The Council said its ultimate objective was to create a business environment where entrepreneurs across the region, from agro-processors and artisans to technology-driven young businesses, can access markets, finance and opportunities on fairer terms.
The movement from 13th to sixth position, it said, represents progress, but also raises the bar for the next assessment.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
