𝗡𝗥𝗖𝗖, 𝗔𝗖𝗘𝗬𝗘 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗢𝗠 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗫

The meeting, held on Friday, 11 September 2026, at the Conference Hall of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council in Tamale, brought together heads of departments and other relevant stakeholders to examine the state of entrepreneurship in the Northern Region and discuss practical measures to improve the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The engagement focused on key issues identified in the report, including challenges, opportunities, policies, institutional conditions, barriers to entrepreneurship, and the way forward. It was also intended to provide a platform for stakeholders to collectively reflect on the factors influencing the ability of individuals and businesses, particularly women and young people, to establish, operate and grow sustainable enterprises.

In his opening remarks, the Acting Chief Director of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, Mr. Sumaila Ewuntomah Abudu, welcomed participants to the meeting and underscored the importance of entrepreneurship to economic development.

He noted that entrepreneurship remains a critical driver of economic growth, job creation, innovation and improved livelihoods, stressing the need for stakeholders to pay serious attention to the conditions that enable businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive.

Mr. Abudu urged participants to actively engage in the discussions and contribute their experiences, observations and recommendations to ensure that the meeting produced meaningful and practical outcomes.

He emphasised that the findings of the REF Index should not only serve as a basis for discussion but should also inform efforts aimed at strengthening the business environment and creating an enabling ecosystem for entrepreneurs across the Northern Region.

A representative of ACEYE, Mr. Emmanuel Acquah, subsequently presented the findings and recommendations of the 2026 Regional Entrepreneurship Freedom Index Report, providing participants with important insights into the entrepreneurship ecosystem of the Northern Region.

The presentation highlighted the opportunities available within the region while drawing attention to challenges, policy gaps, institutional conditions and other barriers that affect the capacity of individuals and businesses to establish, operate and expand sustainable enterprises.

Particular attention was given to the circumstances of women and young people, who constitute an important segment of the region’s current and potential entrepreneurial population.

The presentation provided stakeholders with an opportunity to better understand the factors shaping entrepreneurial activities in the region and the areas requiring concerted intervention to create a more supportive environment for businesses.

According to the REF Index, the Northern Region scored 4.29 out of 10 in 2024, ranking 15th, but declined to 2.79 in 2026, placing 16th among Ghana’s 16 regions.

The 2026 REF Index provides updated insights into the region’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, highlighting areas of progress, emerging opportunities and key challenges affecting private-sector growth.

The findings are expected to provide useful evidence for regional planning, business-environment improvements, entrepreneurship development, investment promotion and employment creation.

The report therefore provides an important basis for stakeholders to assess existing interventions, identify areas requiring improvement and develop strategies that can make the Northern Region more conducive to entrepreneurship and private-sector development.

Following the presentation, participants engaged in extensive discussions and deliberations on the key issues highlighted in the report. The discussions focused on challenges affecting the region’s entrepreneurial environment, including high utility bills and multiple taxation, while participants shared perspectives and proposed measures to create a more conducive environment for businesses and entrepreneurship to thrive.

The discussions provided an opportunity for participants to examine the effectiveness of existing policies and institutional arrangements while identifying barriers that continue to constrain entrepreneurs and businesses.

Participants also considered the need for stronger collaboration among relevant institutions and stakeholders to address identified challenges and create better opportunities for entrepreneurs, particularly women and young people.

The engagement further emphasised the importance of translating the findings and recommendations of the REF Index into practical actions that can contribute to improving the region’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The dissemination meeting underscored the need for sustained stakeholder engagement, evidence-based planning and coordinated interventions to address barriers to entrepreneurship in the Northern Region.

The findings of the 2026 REF Index are expected to serve as an important reference for policymakers, institutions and development stakeholders in their efforts to improve the business environment, promote entrepreneurship, attract investment and create sustainable employment opportunities.

The meeting also reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, ACEYE, government institutions and other relevant stakeholders in building an enabling environment where businesses can establish, grow and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the Northern Region.

The engagement therefore marks an important step towards strengthening the region’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and ensuring that the challenges identified are matched with practical and sustainable solutions.