ABSTRACT
This study examined the challenges Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises face in accessing funds from financing schemes initiated by the government of Ghana. The study adopted quantitative research approach. The study used questionnaires to collect data from 50 SMEs which participated in the Ghana Private Sector Development Faculty through the Ministry of trade and Industry. Descriptive statistics such as pie chart, bar chart, frequency tables and percentages where used to present the results of the data.
The size of establishment affected the SMEs access to fund. Small firms with average low turnover could not receive funding from the scheme because of their inability to meet funding requirements. Locating the office of the GPSDF project was also difficult and time consuming for SMEs which were located outside Accra. It was noted that the banks also shy away from SMEs involved in Agro businesses. Therefore, streamlining these limitations will be integral to the development of the sector. For example, the government of Ghana can offer training and education in SMEs development to both administrators of credit facilities and SMEs operators. Specific financing tools such as venture capital, leasing and factoring can be useful in facilitating greater access to finance. The government can use these schemes to address the precise financing needs and expectations of SMEs which the traditional banks ignore.