“SMEs are vital to Ghana’s industrial transformation” – Patrick Yaw Nimo
Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr. Patrick Yaw Nimo, has hailed the critical role small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play in Ghana’s economic growth.
He made this statement during the first-ever Kaizen Awards Ceremony, held at the Digital Center in Accra.
The awards, organized by the Ghana Enterprises Agency in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), seek to promote excellence and continuous improvement among SMEs in the country.
Speaking on behalf of Mr. Nimo, a representative of the Ministry highlighted the importance of Kaizen – a Japanese concept of continuous improvement – and its relevance in boosting productivity within Ghana’s vibrant SME sector.
He shared an illustrative story from Japan, where a factory worker’s simple adjustment of his workspace saved 60 hours annually, demonstrating how small, incremental changes can lead to significant efficiency gains.
“Today’s event is not just a celebration of excellence but marks the dawn of a new era in Ghana’s entrepreneurial journey,” he said.
“The success of businesses, particularly SMEs, depends on their ability to adapt, innovate, and continuously improve. This is the foundation of the Kaizen philosophy.”
The Chief Director emphasized that SMEs are vital to Ghana’s industrial transformation, as they are at the forefront of economic growth and job creation.
As part of the government’s commitment to supporting SMEs, the Ministry of Trade, through the Ghana Enterprises Agency, has implemented various initiatives aimed at empowering small businesses.
These include access to finance, market opportunities, capacity building, and technology adoption.
The Ministry’s long-term goal is to create a business ecosystem where every entrepreneur can thrive and contribute to value addition, export diversification, and the creation of decent jobs.
The Chief Director encouraged businesses to conduct regular self-assessments, identify challenges, and devise innovative ways to address them in order to achieve sustainable growth and development.
Mr. Nimo applauded the Ghana Enterprises Agency for initiating the Kaizen Awards and extended gratitude to JICA for their support in introducing the Kaizen methodology to Ghana.
He praised the international collaboration, noting that while Kaizen has Japanese roots, its principles are universal and can be effectively applied to Ghanaian businesses.
The event celebrated several award recipients, who were commended for their commitment to excellence.
“Ayeekoo to our awardees. Your dedication to continuous improvement sets the standard for others to follow,” Mr. Nimo said, urging others in the business community to begin their own journey toward continuous improvement.
The Kaizen Awards aim to foster a culture of excellence in Ghana’s SME sector, promoting innovation and operational efficiency that can position local businesses for success on the global stage.
On her part, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, commended the Ghanaian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) for their commitment to continuous improvement, innovation, and operational excellence.
Ms. Yankey-Ayeh emphasized the significance of Kaizen, a Japanese philosophy meaning “continuous improvement,” which has revolutionized global industries and now forms a key part of GEA’s strategy for MSME development in Ghana.
“Kaizen is not just a business strategy but a way of life,” she noted. “It teaches us that there is always room for improvement, no matter how small.”
In partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), GEA has introduced Kaizen practices to over 100 MSMEs across seven regions in Ghana.
Additional enterprises have benefited from training through collaborations with the Mastercard Foundation Young Africa Works Project and the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project.
Highlighting the successes of these initiatives, Ms. Yankey-Ayeh celebrated the international recognition received by Ghanaian enterprises.
Francis Aluminum from the Ashanti Region was named an Excellent Performer at the 2021 African Kaizen Awards, while Tiwajo Enterprise, a cosmetics producer from Greater Accra, secured the Outstanding Small Enterprise Award in Ethiopia in 2023.
The event also marked the revival of the Ghana National Kaizen Awards, first launched in 2019 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our aim is to showcase the best of Ghana’s entrepreneurial talent and foster a culture of excellence that drives our economy forward,” Ms. Yankey-Ayeh said.
She outlined three key objectives: nominating MSMEs for African Kaizen Awards, promoting Kaizen’s benefits across industries, and establishing Kaizen model industries nationwide.
The awards ceremony saw top-performing MSMEs recognized for their achievements, with continued business development and Kaizen support promised by GEA.
“These enterprises will be linked to markets and financial resources to enable them to continue their journey of growth and success,” Yankey-Ayeh announced.
The CEO extended her gratitude to JICA, UNIDO, the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI), and the Ministry of Trade and Industry for their collaborative efforts in advancing the Kaizen philosophy in Ghana.
“Together, we are building a sustainable and brighter future for Ghanaian businesses, one step at a time,” she concluded.
The Ghana National Kaizen Awards aims to inspire further adoption of the continuous improvement model, ensuring MSMEs remain competitive on the African stage and contribute significantly to the nation’s economic growth.
Taking her turn, Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ghana Office, Ms. Momoko Suzuki, has praised the transformative impact of Kaizen on Ghana’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The prestigious event was organized by the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) in partnership with the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI) to recognize the achievements of MSMEs that have successfully implemented the Kaizen continuous improvement methodology.
Ms. Suzuki highlighted JICA’s long-standing commitment to supporting MSME development in Ghana.
“JICA has been supporting Ghana’s MSMEs for nearly two decades now. One of our earliest projects, launched in 2006 in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, introduced Kaizen to the palm oil manufacturing community in the Ashanti Region. The result was a remarkable improvement in productivity and product quality, enabling the community to export palm oil to Germany—one of our first success stories.”
Ms. Suzuki revealed that, to date, over 384 MSMEs in seven regions, including Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Northern, Central, and Greater Accra, have successfully implemented Kaizen through a partnership between GEA and JICA.
She added that over 10,000 MSMEs have also been trained in basic Kaizen principles as part of GEA’s flagship initiatives such as the Young Africa Works Project, BizBox, and the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project.
In 2017, JICA partnered with AUDA-NEPAD to launch the Africa Kaizen Initiative, aimed at promoting Kaizen across Africa and enhancing the competitiveness of industries.
“This initiative has been instrumental in fostering networking among Kaizen practitioners globally, and every year, the Africa Kaizen Annual Conference is held to share best practices. In 2019, we introduced the Africa Kaizen Awards to recognize outstanding enterprises across the continent.”
Ms. Suzuki noted that despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ghana Enterprises Agency continued to nominate local companies for the Africa Kaizen Awards.
“In 2021, Francis Aluminum from the Ashanti Region won the Excellent Performer award in the Small and Medium Scale organization category. More recently, in October 2023, Tiwajo Enterprise, a cosmetics producer from Amasaman, won the Outstanding Small Enterprise award at the Africa Kaizen Initiative Annual Conference in Ethiopia.”
She expressed her excitement about the resumption of the Ghana National Kaizen Awards this year and congratulated GEA and MDPI for successfully organizing the event.
Ms. Suzuki announced that the winner of this year’s national award will participate in the Africa Kaizen Awards, scheduled for November 1, 2024, in Tunisia.
“This event underscores the immense contribution of MSMEs to Ghana’s economic development at the regional, district, and national levels,” Ms. Suzuki said.
“It is my hope that this initiative will inspire other enterprises across Ghana to embrace Kaizen, thereby driving continuous improvement, boosting morale, and making our industries more competitive both locally and globally.”
Ms. Suzuki concluded by expressing optimism that the benefits of Kaizen will continue to spread throughout Ghana and Africa, reinforcing the commitment to excellence in business practices.
On his part, Kentaro Nakayama, Manager of Toyota Tsusho Manufacturing Ghana Co. Ltd, has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to continuous improvement and local economic growth through Kaizen at the Ghana National Kaizen Awards Conference.
Mr. Nakayama highlighted Toyota’s long-standing focus on Kaizen, a Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement, as central to the company’s success in Ghana and globally.
“It is an honor to be here today representing the Toyota Tsusho Group at the Ghana National Kaizen Awards. We are grateful to the Ghana Enterprises Agency, Ministry of Trade and Industry, UNIDO, JICA, and all the participants for organizing this important event,” said Mr. Nakayama.
He emphasized that Toyota Tsusho’s assembly plant in Ghana is not only about vehicle production but also about creating jobs, transferring technology, and contributing to the local economy under the slogan “Creating Automotive Industry in Ghana.”
The plant exemplifies the principles of Kaizen, where continuous improvement is a core value that informs every aspect of Toyota’s operations.
Reflecting on Toyota’s global journey, Nakayama recounted how the company started with limited resources and faced numerous challenges, including the destruction of its factories during World War II.
However, through consistent Kaizen efforts, Toyota grew into a world-leading automotive manufacturer.
“Kaizen means ‘change for the better’ in Japanese, and it represents our approach to making incremental improvements across all processes, products, and services,” Nakayama explained.
“This philosophy not only boosts productivity but also enhances the skills and capabilities of our workforce, fostering a culture of collaboration and problem-solving.”
Nakayama stressed that Kaizen is not a one-time effort but an ongoing journey that requires the commitment of everyone in the organization, from top management to workers on the shop floor.
He emphasized that Toyota encourages all employees to actively participate in identifying and solving problems, reflecting the company’s belief that every individual plays a role in the improvement process.
As Toyota Tsusho continues its operations in Ghana, Nakayama pledged that the company will remain dedicated to its Kaizen philosophy and its mission of “Creating Automotive Industry in Ghana.”
He added, “By continuously improving our operations and investing in the local community, we can proceed with the mass production of happiness in Ghana.”
Mr. Nakayama also expressed admiration for the Ghana Enterprises Agency’s efforts in promoting Kaizen activities across the country.
He noted that the dedication of Ghanaian enterprises to Kaizen is essential for the nation’s economic growth and expressed confidence that these collaborative efforts would lead to remarkable progress.
“We are deeply encouraged by the work of GEA and the enterprises participating in Kaizen activities. Their commitment is crucial to the development of Ghana’s economy. We are proud to support their efforts and believe that together, we can achieve significant success,” he added.
Mr. Nakayama thanked the Ghanaian government and stakeholders for their support and reaffirmed Toyota Tsusho’s commitment to working together to drive continuous improvements and achieve greater success in the future.
Solution Oasis Ltd. has been crowned the overall winner at the 2024 National Kaizen Awards, which recognize outstanding performance in the implementation of Kaizen principles across various business sectors in Ghana.
In the Medium Enterprises Category, Yedent Agro Group of Companies took the top spot, while Solution Oasis Ltd. triumphed in the Micro Small Enterprises Category, beating contenders like Densu Industries Limited and A. A. Agyei Enterprises.
In the Large Enterprises Category, Asheba Company Limited secured the win, overcoming competition from Choco Industries Company Ltd.
Solution Oasis Ltd. also went on to claim the prestigious Overall Winner title, further solidifying its success at the awards.
The annual event, organized by the Ghana Enterprises Agency in collaboration with JICA and other partners, celebrates Ghanaian companies excelling in productivity and continuous improvement through Kaizen.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
