Study on the Assessment of Women Exporters in Ghana. Final Report

摘要

The study is part of an $80 million USAID funded Trade and Investment Program(TIP) designed to support an enabling environment for private sector growth and to target nontraditional export growth. The study is based on a survey of 52 companies and provides a profile of women entrepreneurs who are current or potential exporters. The following major contraints to full participation in exports by women entrepreneurs are identified: (1) financial constraints, such as inadequate financing, lack of access to credit, and insufficient knowledge of the export sector by banks; (2) economic/business/regulatory constraints, which include cumbersome export procedures and documentation requirements; (3) lack of knowledge of export markets; (4) poor quality standards; (5) poor management of export enterprises and lengthy times required to prepare exports; (6) weak institutional support from export associations and the Export Finance Company; (7) social constraints, such as the effects of existing systems of inheritance and the inability of the women to reinvest funds due to the financial needs of their familes. The report also includes information on the financial markets in which the women operate.