Ghana had approximately 2.64 million businesses in 2024, with nine out of every ten classified as micro enterprises, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).
The figures are contained in the maiden Ghana in Numbers report, which provides comprehensive statistics on the country’s businesses, economy, population, education, health, government and development indicators.
Data from the first Integrated Business Establishment Survey (IBES I) show that Ghana recorded 2,644,363 business establishments in 2024. Of this number, 1,867,695 operated from fixed structures, 693,748 were open-space businesses, while 82,920 were mobile enterprises.
The number of businesses nearly tripled from 638,235 in 2014, while employment within these establishments increased from 3.38 million to 6.90 million over the same period.
The report further revealed that 90 per cent of businesses employ between one and five people, highlighting the importance of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to Ghana’s economy. However, only 7.7 per cent of establishments were formally registered, with the figure declining to 6.7 per cent among businesses established between 2015 and 2023.
Women dominate micro enterprises, open-space businesses and mobile trading activities, while formal employment, digital connectivity and paid work are more prevalent in Greater Accra.
Ghana’s Economy Reaches GH¢1.4 Trillion
On the country’s economic performance, the report indicated that Ghana’s nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached approximately GH¢1.4 trillion in 2025.
Income per person also increased significantly from GH¢4,710 in 2013 to GH¢42,502 in 2025. The services sector accounted for 45.9 per cent of total economic output, making it the largest contributor to Ghana’s economy.
Ghana also recorded a trade surplus of GH¢148.3 billion, meaning the value of goods exported exceeded imports by that amount.
The report highlighted the importance of informal cross-border trade, revealing that goods worth GH¢38.4 billion moved across Ghana’s land borders with Togo, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire in the year ending September 2025.
This represented approximately six per cent of the country’s total trade and demonstrated the significant role of informal commerce in Ghana’s regional trade activities.
Ghana Inflation and Agricultural Spending
The GSS report also highlighted improvements in inflation, particularly food prices. Food inflation, which reached a peak of 61 per cent in January 2023, declined to 4.9 per cent by December 2025.
Despite improvements in food production, government spending on agriculture remained relatively low. Public expenditure on the agricultural sector accounted for approximately 0.2 per cent of the economy in 2024.
Ato Forson Highlights Importance of Ghana in Numbers Report
In the foreword to the publication, Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson described Ghana in Numbers as an important national resource for promoting transparency, accountability and evidence-based policymaking.
He explained that making official government statistics accessible to citizens would strengthen public trust and enable Ghanaians to assess government policies and economic performance.
The Finance Minister recalled that he announced the introduction of the annual publication during the presentation of the 2026 Budget to Parliament.
He said the report forms part of broader efforts to improve Ghana’s national statistical system, including the rebasing of GDP and consumer price statistics.
Dr Forson emphasised that government decisions must be guided by reliable data rather than assumptions, noting that accurate economic statistics are essential for effective planning, business development and national growth.
He commended the Ghana Statistical Service, its Government Statistician, management, staff and governing board for producing the publication.
The Minister also encouraged students, teachers, business owners, farmers, public officials and other citizens to use the report to understand Ghana’s development progress and contribute to national decision-making.
The Ghana Statistical Service is expected to publish Ghana in Numbers annually, providing an accessible record of the country’s economic performance, business activities and social development.
Source: newsthemegh.com