By Iddi Yire
Mpraeso (E/R), April 19, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated that the Kwahu Business Forum is more than an event; stating that it is a call to action.
He said the Forum was opened to all Ghanaian businessmen and women, as well as foreigners; declaring that anybody who wants to come and attend and network was invited to attend the Forum.
“The world is changing, and new opportunities are being thrown up, and we as a country must take advantage of those opportunities,” President Mahama stated in his opening remarks at the Second Edition of the Kwahu Business Forum at Mpraeso in the Kwahu South District of the Eastern Region.
The Kwahu Business Forum, which is the brain child of President Mahama, is a major initiative to foster entrepreneurship and support the growth of Ghana’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
It is a direct response to the government’s vision of expanding Ghana’s private sector capacity, especially in the agro-processing and manufacturing sectors of the economy.
As a non-partisan national development agenda, the Kwahu Business Forum brings together business owners, industrialists, investors, start-ups, and major industry players to network, share experiences, and explore ways to raise capital or leverage available products from financial institutions.
The maiden forum, held during the 2024 Easter festivities at Mpraeso, the capital of Kwahu South District of the Eastern region, successfully brought together business magnates and young entrepreneurs who shared their experiences and expectations with the then-candidate John Mahama.
The Second Edition of the Kwahu Business Forum is on the theme: “The Future of Business: The Role of the Financial Sector”.
“Let us work together to build a Ghana that is competitive, productive, and inclusive.
A Ghana that creates opportunity for all,” the President said.
“The future of Ghana will not be determined government alone. It will be determined by our ability to build partnerships—between state and private sector, between finance and innovation, and between leadership and the people.”
The President said Ghanaians were all aware of the challenges the country had faced in recent years, soaring inflation, a weakened cedi, rising debt levels, and a decline in investor confidence.
He noted that these challenges had weighed heavily on businesses and households alike; saying “But I am
confident—and I say this with sincerity—that we are turning a corner.”
He said there were early signs of macroeconomic stabilization; stating that inflation was gradually easing, and with disciplined management, and that they were restoring a measure of confidence in the nation’s economy.
“But recovery alone is not enough. We must now set our sights higher on transformation,” he said.
“We must build an economy that is resilient, inclusive, and productive. And this cannot be achieved without a financial sector that works not just for a few, but for every Ghanaian business from the roadside vendor to the export-ready manufacturer.”
President Mahama said the Government’s vision for Ghana’s future business landscape was bold and deliberate.
He said they were pursuing a targeted programme to restore investor confidence by enhancing transparency, cutting bureaucratic red tape, and promoting a rules-based investment climate.
President Mahama said the Government was prioritizing sectors that could absorb labour and grow the economy sustainably agro-processing, ICT, manufacturing, tourism, renewable energy, and the green economy.
“But our focus is not only on attracting foreign investment. We are equally committed to empowering Ghanaians to become owners and drivers of enterprise,” he said.
“That is why my government will support the private sector not just with policy, but with decisive action.”
President Mahama said the Government would expand access to affordable financing through the Ghana Development Bank, the Women Development Bank, and partnerships with private financial institutions.
He said the Government would support SMEs with targeted financing, tax incentives, and technical support.
The President noted that they would modernize infrastructure—including roads, logistics, and digital connectivity to create an environment where businesses can thrive.
Akyemfour Asiedu Agyemang III, Kwahu Abetifihene and Adontenhene of Kwahu Traditional Area, urged Kwahu citizens to take advantage of the Forum, so that they could have more businessmen and women from the area.
He appealed to President Mahama to complete the only Government Hospital projects in Kwahu at Abetifi, which was started by his previous administration nine years, but came to standstill following a change in Government in 2017.
GNA
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