RISA Fund lead courts support for rural enterprises in Ghana
Story : Abdulai SAAKA, Accra
Country Technical Lead for the Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Fund, Gameli Adzaho has issued a clarion call to address the systemic barriers stifling the growth of rural enterprises in Ghana.
Speaking at the “Investor Case Matching” event under the Bridging the Research Innovation-Industry Assimilation Gap through Technology Capacity Building in Rural Ghana (BRIInG) project, Adzaho stressed the urgent need to bolster rural innovation through strategic investments, capacity building, and market access.
The event, part of the second phase of the BRIInG project, brought together rural innovators, potential investors, and key stakeholders to build investment cases for rural food enterprises. It also featured an exhibition of innovative products from six beneficiary communities. Adzaho’s remarks illuminated the central challenge facing rural entrepreneurs: a lack of financial literacy and limited capacity to present viable investment cases to potential backers.
“There are capacity gaps when it comes to understanding the financial management landscape and articulating what the investment case is to secure funding,” he stated. He argued that rural enterprises must be equipped not only to attract investments but also to manage them effectively. “Investors want to avoid as much risk as possible, and rural innovators must demonstrate the ability to manage finances and operations competently to build confidence,” Adzaho added.
Adzaho identified several interconnected challenges faced by rural enterprises, including maintaining high production standards, accessing competitive markets, and scaling their operations. “Whatever products rural innovators come up with must meet a certain standard or level of quality before they can enter the marketplace,” he said, emphasizing the need for consistent quality to compete on both local and international platforms.
Access to markets, he explained, remains another hurdle. Even when products meet quality standards, many rural innovators struggle to connect with the right buyers. Adzaho also underscored the importance of scaling up solutions to ensure meaningful impact. “You can solve for one community or one entrepreneur, but the broader impact is achieved only when solutions are scalable,” he noted.
Through the BRIInG project, the RISA Fund is actively working to address these challenges. The initiative focuses on creating sustainable frameworks that integrate capacity building with investment readiness, enabling rural enterprises to thrive. By tackling issues such as production quality, financial management, and market access, the project aims to build a resilient rural ecosystem.
Adzaho highlighted the significance of the project’s current phase in setting a precedent for future initiatives. “This is a very important project. We are making an impact, but the results we achieve here will be critical in building a larger case for expanded investment and scalability,” he said. He emphasized that documenting successes from these pilot efforts would serve as a foundation for replicating the model across more communities.
The RISA Fund leader also called for a collective approach, urging stakeholders to collaborate to create lasting solutions. “A cooperative approach, where stakeholders work together, is key to addressing these challenges holistically,” he asserted.
The event underscored the pivotal role of rural innovation in fostering inclusive economic growth. By building investment-ready enterprises, connecting them to markets, and scaling their operations, initiatives like BRIInG are paving the way for a more equitable and prosperous rural economy. Adzaho’s call for bold action resonates with the pressing need to unlock the untapped potential of Ghana’s rural enterprises. With the right support, these innovators can become engines of growth, driving economic transformation and social development across the country
