Vol. 1 No. 1 (2016)

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From Research to Reform: A Case Study on the Policy Implications of Business Scholarship in Ghana, 2010–2024

Rachel Davidson-Smith, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, University for Development Studies (UDS) Kwabena Osei Boateng, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Accra Technical University Efua Mensah-Bonsu, Accra Technical University
Published: January 22, 2026

Abstract

This case study examines the critical pathway from academic business research to tangible policy reform in Ghana between 2010 and 2024. It addresses the problem of how locally generated scholarship can effectively inform national economic and governance strategies, a process vital for Africa’s self-determined development. Employing a rigorous qualitative methodology, the analysis triangulates data from key policy documents—such as the Ghana Industrial Policy and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan—with influential research outputs from Ghanaian academic institutions. The study establishes that a discernible, albeit inconsistent, channel of influence exists. Findings indicate that research on small and medium enterprise financing, digital entrepreneurship, and informal sector formalisation has demonstrably shaped policy rhetoric and specific programme designs, particularly from 2015 onwards. However, the translation of these influences into sustained implementation and scaled impact remains fragmented. The significance of this work lies in its empirical contribution to African scholarship on evidence-based policymaking, highlighting the agency of local academics. It concludes that strengthening institutionalised partnerships between universities, think tanks, and government ministries is imperative for Ghana, and similar nations, to systematically harness indigenous research for more effective and contextually relevant economic governance.

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Rachel Davidson-Smith, Kwabena Osei Boateng, Efua Mensah-Bonsu (2026). From Research to Reform: A Case Study on the Policy Implications of Business Scholarship in Ghana, 2010–2024. African Journal of Women in Leadership and Governance, Vol. 1 No. 1 (2016), 13-29.
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Keywords

Policy ImpactKnowledge UtilisationBusiness ScholarshipSub-Saharan AfricaResearch-Policy NexusInstitutional ReformGhanaian Economy

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