President John Mahama has underscored the need for the private sector to partner with the government in shaping the future of employment in the country.
According to him, the future of the country will not be a preserve of the government alone.
Speaking at the Opening of the 2025 Kwahu Business Forum at Mpraeso in the Eastern Region on Saturday,April 19, 2025, under the theme: The Future of Business: The role of the Financial Sector, President Mahama said to truly enable business growth, the country must go beyond economic policy.
“It requires a firm commitment to rule of law, political stability, and respect for contracts and property
rights. It also requires a responsive, corruption-free public service that sees the private sector not just as a revenue source, but as a development partner” he stated
President Mahama intimated that the Kwahu Business Forum will help build a Ghana that is competitive, productive and inclusive
“The Kwahu Business Forum is more than an event—it is a call to action. Let us work together to build a Ghana that is competitive, productive, and inclusive. A Ghana that
creates opportunity for all” he explained
He added “the future of Ghana will not be determined by 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 Kwahu Business Forum 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. Metalex, Rocksters, Sikkens, Ernest Chemists, East Cantonments Pharmacy, Fon Tissue and other successful business brands were present.
This year’s event features both a forum and an exhibition. The forum will offer direct interaction between business owners and top financial executives, while the exhibition space will provide an avenue for product pitching and networking.
The 2025 Kwahu Business Forum builds on the inaugural event’s success, “aligning with the President’s goal of developing more Ghanaian-owned SMEs that champion export and manufacturing.”
According to the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, “President Mahama wants to be remembered for that one thing, that during his tenure, at least if for nothing, he brought up the conversation, invited business people, and asked them to start something; not just starting, but encouraging banks to give them the necessary support so that we will develop our nation.”.
