How Amma Gyampo Plans To Unlock Venture Capital Potential as New CEO of the Ghana Venture Capital Association
In Ghana’s fast-evolving entrepreneurial ecosystem, access to capital remains a persistent challenge. However, for Amma Gyampo, the newly appointed CEO of the Ghana Venture Capital Association (GVCA), this challenge presents an opportunity to reshape the landscape of investment and growth in the country.
With over a decade of experience supporting entrepreneurs, driving ecosystem collaboration, and championing impact investment, Gyampo is determined to bridge the funding gap and mobilize local capital to fuel Ghana’s startup ecosystem.
In an exclusive interview with Tech Labari, we discussed her vision for GVCA, the current state of venture capital in Ghana, and initiatives she’s looking forward to working on during her tenure.
A Journey Rooted in Impact
Gyampo’s appointment to GVCA is a natural extension of her work in the sector. Having founded Impact Investing Ghana and Scale Up Africa, she has long been at the forefront of fostering collaboration and innovation to move capital where it’s needed most. Her focus has always been clear: job creation.
With 20 million people entering Africa’s job market every year, the need for sustainable investment in high-growth businesses is critical.
“The KPI for me has always been job creation,” Gyampo states. “It’s about connecting the dots, building relationships, and doing the work—pro bono or otherwise—to address fundamental challenges in our ecosystem.”
Her journey to GVCA was swift but deliberate, having been approached by key industry stakeholders who saw her experience and vision as the right fit for the role. Now, she’s setting her sights on transforming Ghana’s venture capital space, making it more inclusive, accessible, and impactful.
We need to demonstrate how risk can be managed, encourage co-investment, and create structured funds that make it easier for institutional investors to participate.
Bridging the Capital Gap
One of the most pressing issues in Ghana’s investment sector is the underutilization of local funds. Pension funds, for instance, are legally allowed to invest up to 10% of their assets under management in alternative investments, including venture capital and private equity. However, they currently invest less than 1% in these areas.
“The capital is there, but it’s just not being activated,” Gyampo explains. “There’s a massive multimillion-dollar blind spot in our local funding ecosystem, and my job is to unlock that.”
To address this, GVCA is focusing on education and risk management. Many institutional investors remain wary of venture capital, perceiving it as overly risky. Gyampo believes that with better structuring tools, risk-sharing models, and co-investment opportunities, investors can be guided into making more strategic and impactful decisions.
“Startups are a smarter investment than many people think,” she asserts. “We need to demonstrate how risk can be managed, encourage co-investment, and create structured funds that make it easier for institutional investors to participate.”
Policy and Structural Reforms
Beyond unlocking capital, Gyampo is also advocating for policy and regulatory changes that will make Ghana a more attractive hub for venture capital and private equity.
We need more women making investment decisions and leading funds. It’s about capacity building and ensuring that women-led businesses have access to the support they need to scale.
Two key policy shifts are at the top of her agenda: making it easier to establish limited partnerships and reducing the barriers to setting up locally domiciled funds in Ghanaian currency. Currently, some funds operate out of Mauritius due to its more favorable investment environment. Gyampo wants to change that by working with regulators and policymakers to streamline the process in Ghana.
“We need to go beyond Mauritius,” she says. “We have the potential to make Ghana a beacon for venture capital in Africa, but we need to fix the ecosystem to allow that to happen.”
A Focus on Women in Venture Capital
Gyampo is also passionate about increasing female participation in venture capital. The industry remains male-dominated, and she believes that more women should be supported to become fund managers, investment committee members, and leaders in the sector.
“We need more women making investment decisions and leading funds,” she emphasizes. “It’s about capacity building and ensuring that women-led businesses have access to the support they need to scale.”
She cites the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund as an example of an initiative that is successfully supporting female fund managers and unlocking local capital for investment in women-led enterprises.
The Road Ahead
Looking ahead, Gyampo envisions a Ghana where billions of dollars are mobilized through venture capital and private equity. Her goal is to see pension funds allocate the full 10% of their assets under management to these sectors, unlocking at least half a billion dollars in capital.
“It’s about pooling resources, co-investing, and working closely with regulators to make Ghana a fit place for venture capital to thrive,” she says.
With just a few weeks into her new role, Gyampo’s ambition is clear: to create a sustainable, thriving venture capital ecosystem that not only supports businesses but also drives job creation and economic growth. And with her track record of impact-driven leadership, Ghana’s startup ecosystem may soon see the transformation it has long awaited.
