By Kenneth Darko

Copyright myjoyonline

The Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI), hosted the Ghana National Kaizen Awards (GNKA) 2025. The event took place in Accra under the theme “Africa Industrialization through Fostering Competitive Firms and Value Chains in Ghana.”

The Chief Representative of JICA, Suzuki Momoko, highlighted that Kaizen is a people-centred approach, which fosters a culture of ownership, and engagement and autonomous growth among employees, contributing to a more dignified and productive workplace. These values align with 24 Hour Economy Programme of the Government of Ghana.

Furthermore, GNKA is a valuable platform that connects experienced Kaizen companies with newcomers, encouraging learning, sharing and motivation. JICA’s continued commitment to GEA and Government of Ghana in its development effort.

In a press statement sourced from the Public Relations Advisor of JICA Ghana, John Kojo Williams, JICA remains committed to Kaizen dissemination in Ghana and hope winners of this Awards will represent Ghana and make a huge statement in the 6th Africa Kaizen Awards initiated by JICA in partnership of AUDA-NEPAD to provide standardization and excellence service delivery via knowledge and experience sharing to boost the competitiveness of Africa industrial sector.

Acknowledging the challenges posed by global disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Kipo Dari, National Project Coordinator, UNIDO Ghana, emphasized the timeliness of this project.

He noted, “MSMEs play a crucial role in Ghana’s economy, driving societal development and generating employment. Through capacity building, the UNIDO support in Ghana aims to facilitate MSME growth, market access, and international trade. He added, UNIDO collaboration with JICA and GEA, and the development of an innovative digital tool for Ghana manufacturing sector is a demonstration of our commitment and drive for inclusive industrialization and we hope to further deepen our relationship with all key Stakeholders for a collective and harmonized approach to MSMEs development in Ghana.

Professor Elijah Yendaw of the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI) indicated that Ghana’s aspirations for industrial transformation, job creation, and global competitiveness are directly tied to productivity growth. Kaizen provides a practical pathway to achieve these goals and as we move toward a more resilient and inclusive economy, Kaizen will continue to shape how we work, innovate, and serve.

To sustain Kaizen, GEA has incorporated Kaizen as service into its core operations and initiatives. This has led to more than 33,478 micro and small enterprises receiving fundamental training in Kaizen through partnerships with other development partners such as UNIDO and the institution’s own initiatives such as the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works, the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project and the Bizbox Project.

After a rigorous selection process involving field visits, expert evaluations, and performance presentations, the following enterprises were nominated for the GNKA 2025: Odina Couture (micro enterprise, garments, Adenta Lakeside Estate), Eya Naturals (micro enterprise, hair products, Spintex Road), Aniwasu Garment (micro enterprise, textiles, Shama), Kofi Vinyo Ltd (micro enterprise, tiger nut powder production, Sunyani), KNUST Fruits (micro enterprise, fruit juice production, Sunyani), and Amanex Ltd (medium enterprise, Accra). All the nominated companies demonstrated exceptional dedication to continuous improvement, productivity and quality under the Kaizen framework.

A key highlight of the event was the launch of the U-SPARK project, a new initiative being implemented by the GEA in partnership with UNIDO and funded by the Government of Japan.

U-SPARK, which stands for UNIDO Smart Performance Analytics for Real-time Kaizen, is a digital tool designed to strengthen the capacity of Ghanaian enterprises to leverage digitalization for diagnosing challenges, optimizing production processes and building resilient value chains that enhance competitiveness both locally and internationally.

This initiative is part of the broader “Expanding the Kaizen Initiative by Enhancing Sustainable Agri-business” project, funded by the Government of Japan. The U-SPARK technology aims to help MSMEs diagnose problems and enhance production lines, leading to improved overall efficiency and a reduction in operational waste.

“Importantly, the U-Spark Project is expected to serve as a catalyst for the Government of Ghana’s 24-hour economy initiative by enabling enterprises to embrace technology-driven efficiency and expand their production capacity around the clock,” said Ms. Margaret Ansei, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency.

The National Kaizen Awards further position Ghanaian enterprises to participate in the African Kaizen Awards, thereby highlighting Ghana’s commitment to industrialization, competitiveness and sustainable development at both the national and international levels.

The ceremony brought together policymakers, industry stakeholders, development partners, sponsors and entrepreneurs to celebrate outstanding achievements in productivity and innovation, while reinforcing the national agenda for sustainable industrial growth.

GEA extends its gratitude to the Partners: United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI) and main sponsors: GCB Bank and Coconut Grove Hotel.