Stanbic Bank and Industry Leaders Advocate for Structural Reforms as Labor and Legal Developments Reshape Ghana's Business Landscape

Leaders in Ghana’s financial and industrial sectors are calling for enhanced structural reforms to unlock investment and ensure economic stability across various industries. Speaking at the WAMPEX 2026 panel, Benjamin Nana Kwesi Mensah of Stanbic Bank emphasized that improved deal structures and strict adherence to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards are crucial for attracting long-term funding into the small-scale mining sector. Despite the sector's vital role in gold production and employment, Mensah noted that a lack of transparency and legal compliance remains a significant hurdle for potential financiers seeking confidence in their investments. The push for structural integrity comes as labor tensions rise within the mining industry, highlighted by workers at Prestea Sankofa Gold Limited who have initiated a sit-down strike. The industrial action stems from the Managing Director’s alleged failure to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding salary increments and end-of-service benefits negotiated earlier this year. While the company's public relations officer has cited weather-related delays for unpaid June salaries and document processing, the standoff underscores the critical need for the transparent governance and reliable leadership that financial experts are currently advocating for in the sector. Parallel to these challenges, the manufacturing and construction sectors are seeing progress in formalization through the registration of the Danpa Adanfo Co-operative Block Producers’ Society Limited. Officially certified by the Department of Cooperatives, this move aims to legalize and standardize the operations of small-scale block producers as part of the SPVO Certification Project. Led by Gabriel Opoku Darko, the registration is expected to enhance the competitive nature of the sector and ensure the production of quality building materials, though the cooperative’s leadership acknowledges that securing adequate funding remains a major hurdle for its growth. Beyond heavy industry and manufacturing, the call for the legal protection of assets has extended to Ghana’s creative and athletic sectors. Listowell Yesu Bukarson, CEO of LYB Sports & Entertainment, has urged showbiz and sports personalities to prioritize intellectual property (IP) rights to secure their financial futures. Bukarson argued that while active careers in these fields are often short-lived, well-managed IP can provide income for up to 70 years after a creator's death. This advocacy for legal safeguards mirrors the broader national trend of seeking formal structures to protect revenue streams and ensure sustainability across all sectors of the Ghanaian economy.