Manifestos fall short on start-up support – Report

Recent evaluations of political party manifestos reveal inadequate support for the country’s burgeoning start-up ecosystem.

According to a report released by the Africa Entrepreneurship Dialogue (AfED), dubbed Ghana Startup Manifesto Index (GSMI) – which assessed both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) manifestos, neither party’s proposals fully address the needs of entrepreneurs.

The NDC manifesto scored 78 percent, placing it in the ‘Adequate’ category, while the NPP manifesto received a ‘Basic’ rating of 68 percent. Both scores indicate significant room for improvement in policies aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and economic growth.

Justice Offei Jr., who led the GSMI evaluations, said the index provides a comprehensive, data-driven evaluation of political manifestos; focusing on their potential to drive sustainable job creation and economic growth.”

The GSMI assesses manifestos across five key areas: Legal Framework, Funding, Infrastructure Support, Impact and Feasibility.

NDC manifesto: Strong on funding, weak on details

According to the evaluation, NDC’s manifesto showed particular strength in its funding proposals – scoring 87.5 percent in this category. The party’s plans include establishing a FinTech Fund, building a digital hub and creating both an SME Bank and a Women’s Trade Empowerment Fund.

“The NDC demonstrates a strong understanding of the financial barriers entrepreneurs face,” the AfED report states. However, it notes that more innovative solutions could further enhance this section.

Other areas of the NDC manifesto received scores of 75 percent, indicating adequate but not exceptional plans. The Legal Framework section, for example, “lacks the depth needed to fully address complex legal issues,” according to the report.

The AfED evaluation concludes that while NDC’s manifesto provides a strong starting point for supporting the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Ghana, it however requires more innovative solutions, in-depth analysis and clearer implementation strategies to truly drive significant economic growth.

NPP manifesto: Basic approach lacks depth

The NPP manifesto’s overall score of 68 percent places it in the ‘Basic’ category, with AfED noting that the party’s proposals touch on critical areas like funding and infrastructure but lack “detailed implementation plans and comprehensive strategies”.

The manifesto’s legal framework received a particularly a score of 63 percent, with AfED citing gaps in clarity and regulatory support essential for start-up growth.

“The NPP manifesto addresses some of the critical issues but with limited detail or scope,” the report states. “The policies or proposals are not fully developed and lack the depth or specificity needed to effectively tackle the issues at hand.”

Feasibility concerns were also raised, with AfED scoring this aspect at just 50 percent.

The report notes that while some policies might be practical, others “may face significant challenges in execution due to lack of detail, planning or resources”.

Call for refined proposals

AfED urged both parties to transform their “basic policies into actionable plans that can effectively drive economic growth and job creation”.

The think-tank called on political leaders to refine their proposals, ensuring they not only set goals but also outline clear, feasible steps to achieve them.