92% of women businesses in Ghana have never exported before – Survey

A research conducted by the Oxford Africa Women Leadership Institute (OAWLI) has revealed that 92% of women-led businesses in Ghana have never exported before.

From the research, only 9.0% (31 out of 386 respondents) have exported so far. 13 out of the 31 had no export certificates.

Close to 50% of those who had exported before sent their items through family and friends.

With an alarming 92% (355 respondents) having no export experience, the research enquired if they were well aware of the required certifications needed to export in the future. Only 20% (71 out of the 355 respondents) were aware.

The research also indicated that 78% (260 out of the 355 respondents) were not remotely aware of the required certifications with 6% (22 out of 355 respondents) unsure if they knew about the required certificates or not.

The report recommended that there is a need to improve export readiness for women-led businesses within the Small and Medium Enterprises space.

It further explained that some level of satisfaction is needed to find clearly who is export-ready.

Female-led businesses were also urged to personally seek the required information, to be export ready.

It concluded that there is a need to support businesses with export certification.