Stakeholders at the African Startups & SMEs in Export & Trade Summit (ASSETS 2025) have called for stronger support for Made-in-Ghana products to help local businesses scale globally and take full advantage of opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The summit, held under the theme “Beyond Borders: Made in Ghana, Sold to the World,” brought together more than 400 participants, including entrepreneurs, corporate executives, policymakers, exporters, and members of the diaspora community.
Organised by the African Startups & SMEs in Export & Trade Secretariat (ASSETS), the event served as a platform to discuss export readiness, market access, and strategies to promote value-added Ghanaian goods on the international stage.
Chairperson of the summit, Sylvia Owu, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, commended the resilience of Ghanaian SMEs and urged them to prioritise innovation, capacity building, and global competitiveness.
Representing the National AfCFTA Coordination Office, National Coordinator Benjamin Kwaku Asiam reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering small businesses through trade facilitation, technical assistance, and policy alignment.
Special Guest of Honour, H.E. Ignatius Amenfi Gaisie, Uganda’s Honorary Consul-General in Ghana, encouraged African entrepreneurs to believe in the continent’s potential and lead with integrity.
“Africa will never rise if Africans do not believe in themselves and their continent. Supporting our own products is not charity — it’s empowerment,” he said.
Representing the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana EXIM Bank, Bright Evans Darko, Head of the Bank’s SME Department, reiterated the institution’s dedication to strengthening SME export capacity through financial and technical support.
Other notable speakers included Ziad Hamoui, President of the Borderless Alliance; Sophia Kudjordji, Chief Corporate Communications Officer at Jospong Group; Victor Sosah, General Manager of EPAC West Africa; Sylvia Adomadzi-Longdon, Economist and Development Consultant; and Samuel Opoku, Co-Founder of Kutana Pay.
They shared insights on trade competitiveness, cross-border logistics, digital payments, and communication strategies for scaling SMEs across Africa.
Peter Adetor, Team Lead of ASSETS, reaffirmed the Secretariat’s mission to empower African startups and SMEs to thrive globally through training, partnerships, and advocacy.
“ASSETS is about building globally minded African businesses that can compete, collaborate, and contribute meaningfully to Africa’s economic transformation,” he said.
He also announced the ASSETS Trade Mission to South Africa, scheduled for November 29 to December 6, 2025, which will connect Ghanaian and African SMEs with potential investors and trade partners in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The initiative is in collaboration with the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), WESGRO, and the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI).
The summit concluded with a renewed call for greater collaboration between the public and private sectors to drive export diversification, value addition, and global recognition for Made-in-Ghana products.
