She emphasised that there was the need to improved market access, financial inclusion, and institutional support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, especial­ly women businesses.

Speaking at the 2025 Interna­tional Women’s Day celebration, held in Accra last Friday, Ms Ansei underscored the impor­tance of empowering women in business in the current economic.

The International Women’s Day celebrations was on the theme: ‘Accelerating Growth to Empower Women and Expand Markets.’

She stressed that while women entrepreneurs contributed signifi­cantly to the country’s economy, limited access to sustainable mar­kets remains a major challenge.

To address this, she highlighted GEA’s Business in a Box (BizBox) Project, which includes Ghana Mall, a Trade Facilitation Hub designed to connect women-led businesses to larger markets, local­ly and internationally.

“This initiative serves as a launch-pad for women-owned enterprises, providing them with a structured, well-branded plat­form to showcase their products, link up with buyers, explore export opportunities, and secure high-value commercial partner­ships,” she indicated.

Ms Ansei also emphasised the need for gender-responsive and suggested financial solutions to bridge funding gaps for women entrepreneurs.

She noted that while GEA had implemented grant schemes, loans, and other financial inter­ventions for women-owned MS­MEs, a more sustainable financing model needed to accelerate and sustain the growth.

To this end, she expressed support for the government’s plan to establish a Women’s Development Bank, to provide customised financial products, business development services, and capacity-building programmes tailored specifically for women entrepreneurs.

“This initiative will redefine women’s access to finance, eliminating barriers like collateral demands, high-interest rates, and financial exclusion. Instead, it will offer funding solutions designed to support their expansion into high-growth industries,” Ms Ansei added.

Similarly, she called on financial institutions to develop more inclu­sive financial products, policymak­ers to simplify regulatory pro­cesses for women entrepreneurs, and corporate and development partners to continue investing in skills development, technology, and market expansion.

Furthermore, she urged women entrepreneurs to seize the oppor­tunity to scale their businesses, embrace innovation, and position themselves for both national and global success.

“As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, let us move beyond words and commit to real measurable impact. When women succeed, families pros­per, communities flourish, and Ghana thrives. Let us accelerate growth, because the time is now,” she noted.

Present were the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mrs Linda Akweley Ocloo; East­ern Regional Minister, Ms Rita Akosua Awatey; the Members of Parliament for Agona East, Ms Queenstar Pokuaa Sawyer; the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Ms Phyllis Naa Koryor Okunnor; National School Feeding Coordinator and her deputy, Hajia Fati Forgor, and Mrs Faustina Lamptey respective­ly, among others.

The celebration, supported by Mastercard Foundation, brought together captains of industry, government officials, women en­trepreneurs, and other stakehold­ers to discuss actionable strategies for advancing women’s economic empowerment in the country.