A scene during the signing ceremony
The Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) and Guzakuza have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to roll out Women in SME Exports 2.0 (WISE Exports 2.0), a four-year initiative aimed at propelling 300 women-led non-traditional export SMEs into global markets.
The programme seeks to generate $15 million in cumulative export sales and create more than 1,500 direct and indirect jobs by 2029. Targeted value chains include cassava, moringa, cocoa, dried fruits, shea, baobab, coconut, and fashion accessories.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Emmanuel Ansah-Amprofi, Youth and Gender Coordinator at FAGE, said the partnership sends a clear message that women-led exports are a strategic priority for Ghana.
“This initiative is transformational and will help build inclusive wealth, competitive SMEs, and sustainable trade opportunities,” he stated.
FAGE Chief Executive, Abdul-Karim Dubiure, described the collaboration as a turning point in Ghana’s export agenda.
“We are committed to placing women at the forefront of the country’s export drive, transforming lives and elevating livelihoods nationwide,” he said.
WISE Exports 2.0 is designed to address three major barriers facing women entrepreneurs in Ghana: – limited export readiness, inadequate access to trade finance, and exclusion from global market systems. Its integrated approach will combine intensive capacity building, export certification, digital onboarding, international buyer engagement, and gender-focused trade finance mechanisms.
Guzakuza, a Pan-African, women-led organisation with a track record of empowering agribusinesses through training, mentorship, and funding, will co-lead the project’s implementation.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah