Prof. Justice N. Bawole, Lead Consultant for Policy Engagement and Advocacy under the Agrifood Youth-led Businesses Entrepreneurship Pillar of the University of Ghana’s Nkabom project, has called for the decentralisation of regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the municipal and district levels.
According to him, bringing these institutions closer to the grassroots will ease the business registration process for young entrepreneurs, many of whom are discouraged by bureaucracy and distance.
Prof. Bawole made the call during a workshop in Techiman, Bono East Region, under the University of Ghana’s Nkabom initiative—a Nutrition and Sustainable Agri-food Systems Collaboration supported by the Mastercard Foundation. The project aims to transform Ghana’s agri-food sector while empowering vulnerable populations, particularly youth.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from the FDA, EPA, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA). Discussions centred on the regulatory hurdles faced by young people trying to formalise their agri-food businesses.
Prof. Bawole also advocated for streamlining the overlapping roles of regulatory agencies to improve operational efficiency.
He noted that the cumbersome nature of the registration process discourages young people from pursuing entrepreneurial ventures.
“Entrepreneurship holds great potential for job creation, especially for Ghana’s unemployed youth. However, the complexity and delays in registering businesses act as a major barrier,” he emphasised.
He acknowledged ongoing efforts by the agencies to improve collaboration, citing a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the FDA and the Ghana Standards Authority.
“We are told that now there is a Memorandum of Understanding between the Food and Drugs Authority and the Ghana Standards Authority. When a product is tested by one agency, the results can be shared with the other, preventing the need for redundant testing a significant improvement for those in the food value chain,” he explained.
Prof. Bawole reiterated the need for government investment in decentralising these agencies.
“You heard the Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Kintampo share a story about an individual who abandoned a business idea simply because they had to travel to Techiman to complete registration. Most agencies lack district or municipal offices. The government must allocate resources to establish these offices at the local level,” he urged.
Gloria Azerongma Salifu, a Principal Regulatory Officer at the FDA, outlined ongoing efforts to support easier registration.
“Through our Progressive Licensing Scheme in collaboration with the Ghana Enterprise Agency, businesses can register products and acquire facility licenses free of charge. We also have an MoU with the Ghana Standards Authority that allows lab analysis results to be shared between agencies to reduce duplication,” she said.
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