Over-regulation crippling Ghanaian MSMEs – ILAPI

The Institute for Liberty and Policy Innovation (ILAPI) has highlighted the detrimental impact of Ghana's complex regulatory environment on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). In a 2026 study based on a survey of 600 MSMEs across manufacturing, ICT, and tourism sectors, ILAPI found that excessive bureaucracy is hindering the growth, formalisation, and job creation potential of these businesses.

The report points to overlapping institutional mandates, burdensome documentation, opaque procedures, inconsistent enforcement, and prolonged registration timelines as key factors contributing to the regulatory burden. ILAPI warns that this situation is particularly damaging to micro and start-up businesses, which often lack the financial and administrative resources to absorb the costs associated with multiple registrations, permits, licences, and certifications.

The institute recommends a comprehensive review of business regulations to eliminate duplication, harmonise permits, and introduce simpler compliance requirements for smaller enterprises, proposing a unified digital platform to streamline the application process for multiple licences and approvals.

Brief written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.