Development Impact expert urges Ghanaian businesses to adopt inclusive and productive models for sustainable impact
Development Impact expert urges Ghanaian businesses to adopt inclusive and productive models for sustainable impact
Fatima Jimanate Umar, a Development Impact Executive at British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, has urged Ghanaian businesses and financial institutions to adopt more inclusive and impact-driven business models to address unemployment and accelerate sustainable growth.
Delivering a keynote address at a UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC) and BII webinar themed “The Future is Productive and Inclusive: Building Models That Leave No One Behind,” Umar stressed the need for a more intentional and measurable approach to impact across Ghanaian businesses.
“Ghana is estimated to be off track to achieving SDG One (1) on ending poverty. Unemployment is also significantly above the continent’s average at around 13%, therefore we cannot afford to continue with business-as-usual approach.”
Umar added, “we need to create jobs, build industries, and empower people, by embracing models that are not only commercially successful, but socially productive and inclusive”.
She urged fund managers, businesses, and financial institutions to deploy capital in ways that enable both financial returns and meaningful improvements in livelihoods.
Inclusive leadership and patient capital needed
Speaking during the webinar, panellists from Unilever Ghana PLC, Absa Bank Ghana LTD, and Growth Investment Partners LTD concurred with Umar’s position, and emphasised leadership, access to the right capital, and ESG adoption as crucial factors in building productive and inclusive businesses.
Paul Agbai, HR Director at Unilever, said inclusion must be deliberate, noting that “intentional leadership” is key to fostering innovation and strengthening performance. Unilever’s gender-balanced leadership teams, he noted, reflect this long-term commitment.
Kyerewaa Osei Mensah, Environment, Social and Impact Manager of Growth Investment Partners, called for equity in capital deployment, especially for SMEs and women-led businesses. She stressed that many SMEs still “do not understand ESG”, which affects investment readiness.
Finally, Obed Ashie of Absa Ghana highlighted the bank’s concessionary financing and flexible products for youth and women entrepreneurs, describing cross-sector collaboration as critical for reducing Ghana’s inclusion gaps.
Panellists agreed that technology-enabled solutions will be essential for scaling inclusive and productive business models across Ghana.
Call for purpose-led business
In his welcome address, Kwabena Asante-Poku, BII’s Ghana Country Director, urged businesses to balance profitability with social and environmental stewardship.
“Businesses are expected to do more than make profit. They’re expected to create jobs, support communities, and protect the environment,” he said.
The session concluded with a shared commitment from the panellists to continue to promote business models that drive productivity, scale opportunity and improve livelihoods, positioning Ghana’s private sector as a key engine for sustainable development.”
Moderated by Jo Ann Takyiwah Sackey, Deputy Country Director at the United Kingdom’s Department for Business and Trade, Accra, the webinar discussed a wide range of related topics such as ESG adoption, SME investment readiness, digital inclusion, and the role of AI in improving impact measurement and access to finance.
