I call on government to put in place sustainable policies targeted at small businesses in the country to help them grow. - Rosemond Aboagyewa Boohene

A multi-method approach employing both quantitative and qualitative research methodology was utilised. Face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires were employed to collect information from 674 owner-managers of small retail shops in the Accra Metropolis in Ghana. In all, 600 useable responses were obtained. In addition, focus group discussions were used to support the findings obtained from face-to-face interviews on issues relevant to business success.

Women form the majority of operators in the small business sector, but their educational levels and managerial experiences are lower than those of their male counterparts.

There are a lot of regulations they have to comply with. They are trying to make ends meet and make their businesses grow and so it sometimes becomes even difficult for them to remember all these regulatory regimes they have to comply with.