By Deborah Asantewaah SARFO
Social Enterprise Ghana has heightened its advocacy for passage of the Ghana Social Enterprise Policy, emphasising some of the sector’s significant contributions to the economy.
Executive Director-SE Ghana, Edwin Zu Cudjoe, in his address at the SE Ghana policy dialogue and forum explained that the policy looks at supporting and driving investment to the country’s various social enterprises.
He noted that the sector is a great avenue for women and persons with disabilities together with returnees who operate different social enterprises which impact job creation as well as address environmental concerns.
Reiterating the sector’s contribution to national economy, a consultant and researcher for SE Ghana, Professor Ernest Asamoah, cited statistics from some recent studies on the sector indicating that it has a tremendous impact by employing over 800,000 people and makes significant contributions to the GDP.
“It has a tremendous impact, because from the last study that was conducted there are about 115,000 social enterprises in the country and they contribute close to 3.5 percent of GDP. So if you have a sector that makes such a contribution, that is huge,” he emphasisied.
He added that the policy contains all the necessary information which characterise a good policy- – with contents including regulatory, economic, social and structural aspects.
The network has therefore called on “government and the relevant ministry of trade and industry to ensure the policy is passed, adopted and implemented”.
Meanwhile, he also urged government and stakeholders to submit their concerns about the policy in order to “revise, review and update it to meet the current requirements and status of government”.
According to Mr. Cudjoe, the industry “feels it can address the menace around galamsey” because of the presence of environmentally concerned organisations in the sector.
He further noted that many organisations in the social enterprise ecosystem are in a good position to ensure the economy’s development is very inclusive and environmentally friendly to benefit young people, women and persons with disabilities.
He emphasised that with discussions on the policy’s passage spanning more than seven years, the moment to implement it is now because of the “increasing levels of economic inequality, graduate unemployment and the threat of galamsey”.
In response to the possibility of passing the policy before year-end, Prof. Asamoah said: “It can be done within three months if the willpower is there to get it passed”.
SE Ghana is the national network for high-impact social entrepreneurs, hubs, accelerators and impact investors. It works to create a conducive environment for social enterprises through policy advocacy, training and support in areas like market access, technology and finance.
