Ghana Business Enabling Environment Programme (BEEP)

Framework Agreement for: Economics and Private Sector (EPS) PEAKS
Framework Agreement Purchase Order Number: PO 5750
Call-down Contract For: Ghana Business Enabling Environment Programme (BEEP)
Contract Purchase Order Number: PO 7228

Objective:

The UK will provide up to £10 million over 2015-2018 to help improve the Business Enabling Environment in Ghana. Funding will support targeted institutions within the Government of Ghana to enact reforms; build the evidence base for reform through independent analysis and research; and support Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) to enhance the demand for and effectiveness of reform. DFID will also support the generation of evidence and research through direct commissioning and grants, as well as facilitate PPD mechanisms. The latter will be directly managed by DFID.

This programme addresses the need for an improved Business Enabling Environment in Ghana. While relatively positive, at 70 th in the world, Ghana’s Doing Business ranking has stagnated and started to fall in the last few years, with almost no major reforms carried out since 2010. In some areas, the situation has regressed rapidly and perception surveys show a declining business confidence. Private investment 1 is lower than middle income comparators. In order to compete with its global peers at a period when favourable conditions for investment flows to emerging markets are now tightening, and in order to facilitate the hitherto stifled growth of local firms and formalisation of the large informal sector, Ghana needs to ensure that its regulatory environment is on the right trajectory towards creating minimal cost and time barriers to doing business.

DFID support will be provided to targeted Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that show a strong commitment to enacting reform, with tight financial controls. The agencies and reform areas are:

1. Commercial justice and contract enforcement (including arbitration) - Commercial Courts of the Judicial Service and relevant agencies.

2. Improving tax payer services particularly for SME - Ghana Revenue Authority and other relevant agencies.

3. Local level licensing/fees and building and construction and permits - Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development including other related agencies.

4. Private Sector Policy Facility – Developing a programme that promotes effective Public-Private Dialogue (PPD)