Accra, Ghana – May 7, 2026 – Sylvester Adinam Mensah, CEO of the Ghana Export-Import Bank, declared Thursday that Africa leads the world in female entrepreneurship, a testament to the continent’s women’s inherent capacity, resilience, and leadership. Speaking at the 2026 Ghana Female CEOs Summit, Mensah highlighted that nearly one in four businesses in Africa are owned or led by women.
A Continent of Female Founders
Mensah’s remarks at the summit, held in Accra, underscored a significant global trend: Africa’s unparalleled rate of female entrepreneurship. This high proportion of women-led businesses is not an accident, he asserted, but a clear demonstration of capability and drive.
The figures suggest that women are a dominant force in African enterprise. This trend reflects their determination to create and grow businesses, often in the face of significant structural challenges inherent to many African economies.
The Persistent Challenge: Unequal Access
Despite this impressive leadership in entrepreneurship, Mensah voiced critical concerns about the disparities women entrepreneurs face. He noted that women-led businesses consistently earn less than their male counterparts, a gap not attributed to competence but to systemic inequalities.
“Access to finance, access to market, access to opportunity” remain significant hurdles for women entrepreneurs across the continent, Mensah explained. These limitations prevent businesses from reaching their full potential and hinder overall economic growth.
The CEO emphasized that these are not minor issues but fundamental barriers to inclusive development. The success of these businesses is crucial for the broader economic prosperity of Africa.
Call for Enhanced Support Systems
Mensah called for a more robust and coordinated approach to support women-led enterprises. He stressed that addressing the unequal access to essential resources is paramount for fostering sustainable and inclusive economic development throughout Africa.
Such support systems could encompass targeted financial instruments, mentorship programs, and initiatives to open up new market opportunities specifically for women entrepreneurs. The goal is to level the playing field and ensure that the high rate of female entrepreneurship translates into equitable economic outcomes.
The insights shared by Mensah at the Ghana Female CEOs Summit serve as a crucial reminder of both the immense potential and the persistent challenges within Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape. The focus now shifts to how these identified gaps can be effectively addressed to unlock the full economic power of women across the continent.
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