The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations has held a key meeting in Accra with the objective to drive innovation as set out in the Ghana Innovation and Start-up Bill.
Consultant input from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) came in the form of a meeting with Kofi Ocloo, the vice-president of Heritors Labs, and his team. Their focus was on strategies to increase innovation and drive the start-up economy in Ghana.
The new law is a significant step in promoting entrepreneurship and innovation at the national level. It aims to establish a legal and institutional framework that will foster start-ups, stimulate innovators and promote an ecosystem for sustainable economic growth.
Insights from innovation landscape reports
At the meeting, Ocloo presented in-depth reports with evidence establishing Ghana’s innovation status.
The reports provided useful information about the challenges faced by start-ups and innovators across various industries and the opportunities open to them.
The data provided will act as a foundation for drafting the provisions of the bill, ensuring that it addresses the real needs of the innovation ecosystem in Ghana.
Three-step review process
To ensure the bill is comprehensive, the ministry unveiled a methodical three-stage review process:
1. Committee-level review: The bill will first be examined by a special committee of stakeholders and experts that will provide detailed comments on its provisions.
2. Zonal-level consultation: Stakeholder consultations will be carried out across various zones in Ghana to obtain a range of perspectives and ensure regional needs are met.
3. National-level validation: National validation will be carried out through national consultations with all the major stakeholders before the draft legislation is presented in Parliament.
The multi-stage process is designed to be inclusive and transparent, and to involve a large number of stakeholders.
Commitment to innovation
Honourable Samuel Nartey George (MP), Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, confirmed his utmost interest in moving the bill forward with the assistance of Heritors Labs and other CSIR consultants.
He stressed that it will be imperative for stakeholders to collaborate and make the bill satisfy the wants of Ghana’s entrepreneurs and innovators.
“We are committed to passing the Ghana Innovation and Start-up Bill transparently and jointly. With inputs and guidance of key stakeholders, we aim at presenting a good and effective bill to Parliament,” George said.
Activation timeline
The ministry has also given a timeframe for commencing the review process by May 2025.
The aim is to have the final draft ready to be tabled in Parliament before the next recess, allowing it to receive the attention and approval it warrants.
This is an indication of the ministry’s seriousness and urgency in promoting innovation-led growth in Ghana.
Highlights of Innovation and Start-up Bill:
1. Fostering innovation: The bill will focus on promoting and developing innovation-based businesses across the country.
2. Multi-aspect review process: A systematic, three-stage review process will provide for comprehensive input from a wide range of stakeholders and a proper legislative forum.
3. Stakeholder validation: The Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations will initially engage key stakeholders to prepare a bill that addresses the practical requirements and issues encountered and arising in actual life.
4. Early tabling: The ministry intends to complete the review process and table the bill in Parliament by May 2025.
The overall strategy reflects Ghana’s intention to create a healthy, innovative economy.
By establishing a facilitating legal framework, the Ghana Innovation and Start-up Bill has the potential to unlock new opportunities for start-up firms, entrepreneurs and innovators across the country.
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