GhISP Welcomes Norfund as New Co-Funder to Expand Support for Ghanaian SMEs

June 02, 2026

The Ghana Investment Support Programme (GhISP) has welcomed Norfund as its latest co-funder, strengthening efforts to support private sector development and increase investment flows to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana.

The announcement comes a few months after Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) officially joined GhISP and reflects growing confidence in its model of helping SMEs become investment ready and better positioned to attract capital.

Powered by British International Investment (BII) and supported by SECO and Norfund, GhISP aims to increase investment flows to underserved SMEs in Ghana, with a particular focus on gender, inclusion, and climate investing. It is designed to drive enhanced development impact while aligning with investment strategies in Ghana.

Since its launch, GhISP has delivered pre- and post-investment technical assistance to 15 SMEs. This support has helped facilitate six investment deals with a combined value of $9 million.

Naana Winful Fynn, Regional Director for West Africa, Norfund; Jacob Kholi, Chief Executive and Investment Officer, GIP; and Kwabena Asante-Poku, Coverage Director for Ghana, BII.

Norfund, the Norwegian Investment Fund for developing countries, sees strong alignment between its investment activities in Ghana and GhISP’s work supporting businesses. According to Naana Winful Fynn, Norfund’s Regional Director for West Africa, GhISP plays an important role in helping SMEs institutionalize and strengthen their operations.

“By helping SMEs institutionalize and become more investment ready, GhISP contributes to making businesses more able to attract capital from institutional investors and also contributes to building a stronger pipeline of businesses for institutional investors, thus catalyzing private sector growth,” said Winful Fynn.

The partnership builds on existing connections between Norfund and organizations working to expand access to finance for Ghanaian businesses. Last month, Norfund invested in Growth Investment Partners (GIP), an investment platform established by BII. GhISP works closely with GIP to provide tailored pre- and post-investment support to SMEs and helps connect companies to capital by supporting investments for GIP, other BII investees, and fund managers in Ghana.

With Norfund joining as a co-funder, GhISP will be able to expand its efforts to unlock capital for more Ghanaian SMEs and continue supporting businesses with the capacity to drive growth, create jobs, and contribute to sustainable development.