Ghana has taken a major step towards digital transformation by validating its first-ever National E-Commerce Strategy, aimed at boosting online trade, empowering small businesses, and supporting inclusive economic development across the country.
The official validation took place on Thursday at a stakeholder workshop in Accra, organized by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The workshop brought together a wide mix of stakeholders—including government officials, private sector leaders, development partners, academia, and civil society organisations—who reviewed and endorsed the draft strategy. The document outlines priority actions needed to overcome Ghana’s existing structural and trade-related barriers in the e-commerce space.
According to a joint press release by the Ministry and UNCTAD, the strategy’s core objectives include empowering micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), creating decent jobs, promoting gender and rural inclusion, and boosting economic diversification through a vibrant digital economy.
This national strategy follows a comprehensive eTrade Readiness Assessment (eT Ready) conducted by UNCTAD at the request of the Ministry in 2023. The assessment, published in November that year, revealed significant policy gaps and development opportunities in Ghana’s digital trade ecosystem. As a result, the Ministry requested technical assistance in March 2024 to design a focused roadmap for e-commerce.
Deputy Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mr. Sampson Ahi, who addressed participants at the validation event, described the strategy as “both ambitious and practical,” stressing its commitment to building digital trust, improving logistics and payment systems, supporting MSMEs, and ensuring equitable digital access for women and rural communities.
“This is the beginning of a coordinated national effort to make e-commerce work for all Ghanaians,” he said, underlining the importance of inclusive policymaking.
In line with implementation efforts, the Ministry is also establishing an E-Commerce and Digital Trade National Steering Committee—a multi-stakeholder body made up of public and private sector representatives, academics, and civil society. This committee will be responsible for coordinating actions, monitoring progress, and ensuring policy coherence across ministries and agencies.
UNCTAD’s technical backing forms part of a wider United Nations initiative to promote digital ecosystem growth for MSMEs. The effort is co-led by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and coordinated by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO) under the Joint SDG Fund Digital Transformation Round (2023).
The strategy’s development followed a deeply participatory approach, including national consultations held in June 2024 and detailed stakeholder engagements through October and November. These sessions helped deepen collaboration across sectors and aligned the e-commerce strategy with Ghana’s national development agenda.
Mr. Torbjörn Fredriksson, Head of the E-Commerce and Digital Economy Branch at UNCTAD, praised Ghana’s commitment and leadership in digital policy development.
“UNCTAD is proud to support this process, which not only aligns with Ghana’s development priorities but also strengthens the digital capabilities of MSMEs, which are engines of growth and job creation,” he noted.
The strategy aims to address critical issues such as digital infrastructure, data governance, digital literacy, payment interoperability, consumer protection, and cross-border trade facilitation—all of which are vital for accelerating e-commerce adoption and ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital economy.
In the coming months, the Ministry is expected to roll out targeted programmes, policy reforms, and public-private partnerships aligned with the new strategy. This includes supporting digital entrepreneurship, facilitating access to finance, and expanding Ghana’s role in global digital trade.
With this move, Ghana is positioning itself not only as a digital trailblazer in West Africa but also as a model for inclusive digital transformation in the developing world.
