Kaizen Approach Boosts MSMEs: JICA and GEA Champion Economic Transformation in Ghana


At the second National Kaizen Awards held at the Accra Digital Centre, Ms. Suzuki Momoko, Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ghana, delivered a solidarity message highlighting the longstanding partnership between JICA and Ghana’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The event, organized by the Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA) in collaboration with the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI), recognized outstanding enterprises that have successfully implemented Kaizen practices to enhance productivity and competitiveness.


In her speech, Ms. Momoko emphasized JICA’s nearly two-decade commitment to supporting MSME development in Ghana, beginning with the 2006 introduction of the Kaizen approach to palm oil manufacturers in the Ashanti Region. Through the implementation of Kaizen, the manufacturers improved both productivity and product quality, enabling them to export their palm oil to Germany. This success marked one of the first major achievements of the Kaizen initiative in Ghana.


Currently, more than 384 MSMEs across seven regions (Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Northern, Central, and Greater Accra) have adopted the Kaizen approach, thanks to the efforts of GEA and JICA. Additionally, over 10,000 MSMEs have been trained in basic Kaizen through various GEA projects, including the Young Africa Works Project, BizBox, and the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project. Ms. Momoko expressed her hope that more Ghanaian enterprises will use Kaizen to become internationally competitive.


Ms. Momoko also reflected on the Africa Kaizen Initiative, launched by JICA and AUDA-NEPAD in 2017, which promotes Kaizen across Africa to enhance industrial competitiveness. She pointed out that the initiative organizes an annual Africa Kaizen Conference to share best practices, and in 2019, the Africa Kaizen Award was launched to recognize exemplary companies implementing Kaizen.


Despite the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghana has continued to perform well in the Africa Kaizen Awards. In 2021, Francis Aluminum, based in the Ashanti Region, won the Excellent Performer award in the Small and Medium Scale category. More recently, in October 2023, Trwajo Enterprise, a cosmetic producer from Amasaman in Greater Accra, received the Outstanding Small Enterprise award during the Africa Kaizen Annual Conference in Ethiopia.


Ms. Momoko expressed her delight at the resumption of the National Kaizen Awards this year and congratulated GEA and MDPI for successfully organizing the event. She also announced that the winner of this year’s National Kaizen Award will participate in the Africa Kaizen Awards to be held in Tunisia on November 1st, 2024.


The National Kaizen Awards underscore the significant contribution of MSMEs to Ghana’s economic development at regional, district, and national levels. Ms. Momoko concluded by expressing her hope that the awards will inspire other enterprises to implement Kaizen practices, further promoting the benefits and positive impact of Kaizen across Ghana and Africa.

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