Senior Presidential Staffer in Charge of Energy and Green Transition, Nana Yaa Jantuah, has called on regulatory institutions across the country to enhance their visibility, accessibility, and direct engagement with the business community as part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s entrepreneurial environment.
Addressing representatives from various regulatory agencies, at a high-level business regulatory dialogue organized by the Institute for Liberty and Policy Innovation (ILAPI) at the Coconut Grove Hotel, she underscored the growing frustration of Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and startups who struggle to meet licensing requirements simply because the institutions responsible are not easily reachable. This, she said, has fueled the reliance on middlemen who often take advantage of business owners.
“People use middlemen because those who are supposed to deliver the service are not accessible or visible,” she stated. “There is a real need for regulatory bodies to get closer to the people who need their services.”
Nana Yaa Jantuah emphasized that accessibility is as important as regulation itself, noting that many aspiring entrepreneurs are willing to follow due process but are discouraged by unclear procedures and limited institutional support. She urged agencies to adopt more proactive public engagement strategies, including one-on-one guidance for new business owners.
“These bodies must engage the people. They must make the processes easy and let citizens know exactly where to start from. The regulatory institutions themselves have to be visible,” she said.
She further stressed that improving institutional visibility would not only eliminate bottlenecks but also help government enforce transparency and accountability across the business landscape. According to her, a more approachable regulatory system is essential to ensuring that the business environment remains strong, competitive, and fair.
Nana Yaa Jantuah also highlighted government’s readiness to collaborate closely with regulators, assuring that President John Dramani Mahama remains committed to supporting interventions that make Ghana’s business space more efficient.
“It is the hope of President Mahama that such institutions thrive. Government will do all it can to remove the bottlenecks because the economy runs around businesses,” she noted.
She encouraged regulators to carry out research, share insights with government, and help influence policy reforms that align with emerging business needs.
Nana Yaa Jantuah reiterated that a responsive, visible, and people centred regulatory system is crucial, particularly as the country prepares to fully roll out the 24-hour economy.
