Ghana launches entrepreneurship policy chatbot to improve regulatory access

Ghana has launched the Ghana Entrepreneurship Policy Chatbot to help entrepreneurs and startups better understand government policies and regulatory requirements affecting business operations.

The digital tool is a response to persistent challenges faced by entrepreneurs in navigating complex, fragmented and highly technical policy and regulatory frameworks.

The initiative was unveiled at the Ghana Digital and Innovation Week (GDIW) 2025 in Accra.

A statement issued in Accra said the Ghana Entrepreneurship Policy Chatbot, also known as Gepbot, was designed to provide quick and clear responses to policy-related questions, enabling entrepreneurs to make informed decisions and

reduce delays often caused by uncertainty over certification, standards and documentation requirements.

The chatbot forms part of the Digital Transformation for Inclusive Entrepreneurship in Ghana programme, which seeks to strengthen digital skills, improve access to information and support inclusive economic growth and job creation.

It is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. 

It aligned with DTEG’s broader objective of strengthening digital skills, improving access to information and supporting inclusive economic growth and job creation.

It said the need for such a platform was highlighted during a panel discussion at the launch involving representatives from the Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Standards Authority and the Ghana Enterprises Agency

The panelists noted that many entrepreneurs struggled to comply with regulations not out of negligence, but due to difficulties in accessing accurate information or correctly interpreting policy requirements. 

“Misconceptions around regulatory processes were identified as a major cause of delays and avoidable bottlenecks for businesses,” it added.

It said participants observed that an on-demand tool capable of offering consistent guidance could help bridge the information gap between public institutions and the entrepreneurial community.

It said developed through collaboration among ecosystem actors, policy specialists and technology developers, the Gepbot translated policy frameworks into more accessible and user-friendly guidance, informed by real-life entrepreneurial experiences.

It said stakeholders at the event described the launch as a step toward improving transparency,

clarity and accessibility in public sector engagement with businesses, areas widely recognised as critical to strengthening Ghana’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

“Developers indicated that the chatbot would continue to evolve as more entrepreneurs engage with the platform and as public institutions provide updated policy content to reflect changing regulatory needs,” it said.