GEA Moves to Digitise MSMEs
The Ghana Enterprises Agency has begun high-level discussions with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Kaizen Regional Expansion Project under the Japan International Cooperation Agency to improve productivity and modernise Ghana’s micro, small, and medium enterprise sector through digital innovation and lean management systems.
The strategic engagement, led by GEA Chief Executive Officer Margaret Ansei Magoo, focused on adapting the Japanese Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement and waste reduction to support local manufacturing and agribusiness development. Officials reviewed how successful Kaizen systems implemented in other African countries, particularly Ethiopia, could be replicated in Ghana to improve efficiency across the country’s 16 regions.
According to the agency, the meeting allowed all three institutions to assess current business support systems, evaluate technical assistance programmes, and identify structural gaps affecting productivity among domestic small businesses. The discussions also examined how Ethiopia successfully expanded its Kaizen programmes from pilot factories into a nationwide industrial strategy through centralized training and certification systems.
The consultation further reviewed Ghana’s existing Kaizen infrastructure, including field training methods, monitoring systems, and the Ghana National Kaizen Awards programme, which rewards businesses that demonstrate improved labour productivity and reduced manufacturing waste. Officials also assessed the impact of IT infrastructure and logistics equipment previously supplied to the agency to support enterprise development activities.
As part of a new operational strategy, the GEA is proposing the establishment of a Digital Kaizen Centre of Excellence in Accra to serve as a permanent training and technical support hub for local businesses and consultants. The centre is expected to provide advanced digital tools, including automated inventory tracking systems, resource planning software, and cloud-based waste diagnostic technologies to improve factory operations and reduce inefficiencies.
The agency says the initiative will help position Ghanaian businesses to benefit from opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area by reducing production costs and improving product quality. Technical consultations between the GEA, UNIDO, and JICA are expected to continue over the coming months to finalize implementation plans, funding arrangements, and operational timelines for the project.
