The YAFO Institute has released its 2025 Annual Report, themed “Market Works,” outlining a year of policy engagement, organisational growth and initiatives aimed at promoting civil liberty, free enterprise and prosperity in Ghana.
According to the institute, the report highlights the importance of market-driven ideas in advancing economic freedom. It notes that innovation, voluntary exchange and incentives within open markets remain key drivers of sustainable development, particularly at a time when many societies face increasing bureaucratic control.
In 2025, the institute implemented the Decentralized Business Empowerment (DBE) Programme to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) confronting economic challenges. The programme responded to ongoing constraints within Ghana’s business environment, including inflationary pressures, currency volatility, limited access to financing and high operating costs. As part of the initiative, participating entrepreneurs received training on the use of blockchain technology and decentralised financial tools to strengthen business resilience.
The institute also launched Liberty Sphere, a flagship training programme designed to deepen participants’ understanding of liberty, free-market principles and public policy. The programme brought together 125 participants, including students, journalists, activists, entrepreneurs and other change-makers. It featured facilitators from academia, policy advocacy and free-market economics. The programme ended with the Battle Grounds Policy Pitch Competition, where participants presented policy proposals addressing socio-economic challenges, with a cash prize of GH¢6,000 awarded to the winning entry.
In addition, the institute participated in the 2025 Africa Liberty Forum in Kenya, hosted by the Atlas Network in partnership with Students For Liberty. Three staff members represented the organisation and took part in capacity-building activities, while two policy scholars were admitted into the George Ayittey Society.
The report also references the institute’s research titled “Counting the Costs: The Unintended Consequences of Ghana’s Free Senior High School Policy on Household Poverty,” which assessed the policy’s impact on household poverty in 2024. The institute said some of its recommendations informed policy discussions in 2025, including a Free SHS Policy Reform Dialogue to review ongoing reforms.
Activities for the year concluded with the Heroes of Liberty Dinner & Awards (HOLDA), which recognises individuals contributing to the advancement of liberty-centred ideas.
The report further outlines the organisation’s planned activities for 2026 and provides insights into the teams behind its programmes. It is available for download in PDF format on the institute’s website. Click here to download.
