INVESTIGATING THE LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PRE-REQUISITES FOR A SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF CROWDINVESTMENT IN GHANA

Abstract This study investigated the ease of access to capital by Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs) in the Ghanaian economy as the Ghanaian media have highlighted that Ghanaian SMEs suffer to find financing to survive and grow. The study explored the Crowdinvestment concept as a solution to the financing problem faced by businesses in Ghana. The study was exploratory in nature and employed both primary and secondary data to draw its conclusions. Random sampling and purposive sampling methods such as snow-ball were used to identify the participants of the study. The participants were either engaged in a one-on-one interview or asked to fill out questionnaires depending on the group of participants they fell in. Qualitative Content Analysis and graphical representations were used to analyze the data. Even though the study found that the current Ghanaian investment and business environments are favorable to the concept, it also revealed the necessity of education in the success of the concept in the country. Since the concept is new, the education of all stakeholders through research and pilot projects was found to be imperative. The study also elaborated on the various factors, legal, legislative and institutional, that need to be critically considered for the crowd investment concept to work in Ghana.