By Rachel Kakraba
The Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare, has acknowledged the support of TradeMark Africa, TMA, for its role in empowering women-led businesses through targeted training to access the export market. The initiative she noted has helped equip women entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge required to meet international trade standards, identify viable export opportunities and position their products competitively on the global market.
Madam Ofosu Agyare said this when she took her turn at the Government’s Accountability Series at the Presidency in Accra, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. She stated that strengthening the capacity of women-owned enterprises remains a key priority of the government as it contributes significantly to job creation and economic growth.
She said the training, which has been supported by TMA and the World Bank, has so far trained more than two thousand women led businesses, youth and persons with disability across some border towns in Ghana.
“We’ve made a conscious effort to empower women to take advantage of the export market, which is of course a bigger and better market. In support of cross-border trade, the ministry sensitized over 2,800 business, led by women, youth, and persons with disability across Elubo, Takoradi, Tamale, Cape Coast, Aflao, Akanu- Noepe and Sunyani in collaboration with Trademark Africa and the World Bank”
The sector minister said the programme focuses on export readiness, packaging, quality assurance, market access and compliance with international regulations. The initiative, Madam Ofosu Agyare, said reflects the government’s commitment to women and youth participation in trade, agribusiness, and industry.
TradeMark Africa, an organization committed to promoting intra-African trade, under the West Africa Trade Facilitation Programme, which is a two-year project spanning May 2024 to December 2026, has been developing core competencies of traders, particularly along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor. The initiative which is funded by the Agence Française de Développement is to promote stronger, inclusive and sustainable regional economic integration across West Africa.
