As preparations toward a single market for the African continent are underway, the Association of Ghana Start-ups president, Solomon Adjei, has reiterated the need for government to be deliberate in its implementation of programmes for start-ups.
“If the government wants start-ups to benefit from the free trade area, then it needs to be deliberate and organise special programmes to build their capacity,” he said.
With respect to the level of attention given the start-up ecosystem on the back of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), he bemoaned that little attention has been paid to the sector.
Again, he said, the support mechanism that needs to be in place from the central government to regional level should be properly structured – with particular emphasis on supporting start-ups to be sustainable.
He explained deliberate support and mechanisms as having a proper and structured plan or programmes mainly for start-ups by organising special programmes such as seminars, workshops, business expos among others for the acquisition of skills and capacity building to get them prepared for the big market the continent anticipates.
He charged government to rise beyond lip-service by putting in place a national agenda, with emphasis on helping start-ups to expand and seize opportunities under the AfCFTA zone.
While he commended the support from government, corporate institutions and development partners for the sector, he urged government to intensify its interventions for start-ups.
On the challenges faced by start-ups, he underscored funding as the main one – in addition to infrastructure and access to markets, among others.
Against this backdrop, he advocated the setting up of a dedicated start-ups fund, to provide sustainable funding to burgeoning businesses that have potential to support the export drive and job creation.
Meanwhile, as AfCFTA introduces wider access to markets, Mr. Adjei advised young people to start looking at how they can produce and market their products beyond the shores of this country.
