By Amma Gyampo, Executive Director of the Ghana Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (GVCA)
The 24-Hour Economy policy has captured national attention. It has energy. It has ambition.
But without catalytic capital and expert private sector participation, it risks becoming yet another recycled programme that generates more slogans than sustainable jobs.
To make this work, Ghana must go beyond politics and policy memos to unlock strategic, patient, local capital — the kind of capital the Ghana Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (GVCA) is advocating to have flow to the private sector’s most robust commercial businesses and industries.
Through the GVCA Pension Industry Compact, launched in April 2024, GVCA is activating a growing movement of domestic investors, fund managers, and institutional actors to mobilize long-term capital from within.
Our immediate goal—GHS 5 Billion —is the first real, tangible step in creating a venture capital and private equity jurisdiction in Ghana: one that prioritizes inclusive growth, builds investable pipelines for high-growth SMEs, and fuels the private sector that’s supposed to deliver on this new 24-Hour Economy vision.
The private sector needs partnership, enabling policy, access to fit-for-purpose capital, and local transaction advisory that understands the risks, cycles, and potential of local industries and businesses.
GVCA is a private sector industry body representing the wider private investment ecosystem—especially local fund managers and institutional investors— dedicated to operationalizing the 5% Compact.
The tools and people are already here:
- Pension funds and insurance capital that have already pioneered and invested in PE, as well as those ready to diversify and partner with local PE /VC experts
- Fund managers and PE/VC practitioners equipped with local insight and technical expertise
- Commercially astute, experienced entrepreneurs in agribusiness, creative industries, manufacturing, tech, manufacturing and green energy
When paired with the right policy environment, this combination can create real jobs, attract international co-investors, and ensure value stays in the country.
This is how we build an economy that never sleeps—by giving private capital space to innovate, grow, and lead.
Ghana doesn’t need another social intervention, political gimmick, or a reincarnation of One District, One Factory. Nor do we need another MASLOC-style employment scheme creating low-level “jobs for the boys”.
We’ve tried that path. We know how that ends. What we need now is:
- Decent, dignified, secure jobs for women and youth
- Locally-backed innovation and industry
- Sustainable SME development, led by commercial and catalytic capital
- Real partnerships – government should partner with local industry experts and investors
This article was written on Ms Gyampo’s LinkedIn Page
Amma Gyampo is the Executive Director of the Ghana Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (GVCA), a private-sector-led industry body focused on mobilizing domestic capital for private investment in Ghana.
