Mahama: Key challenge in business is finding trustworthy workers

President John Dramani Mahama highlighted a major challenge for business owners. He stated that finding trustworthy employees is often harder than securing funds.

At the Kwahu Business Forum on April 19, he shared a personal story. Mahama once bought a bus for a relative to start a transport business. He hoped this would help his family financially.

However, the driver, also a relative, acted in his own interest. He modified the bus, causing frequent breakdowns. Eventually, Mahama had to sell the bus, and the driver's ambitions ended with it.

Mahama said many businessmen face similar issues. They struggle not just with capital but also with finding reliable workers. “If someone works for you,” he noted, “they may see your business as their platform.”

He recounted how he bought a bus to help his family. The driver added extra weight to the vehicle, which broke down frequently. This led to costly repairs that outweighed any benefits of owning the bus.

The driver lived in Mahama's family house while driving the bus. He even started building his own house but never finished it after the bus broke down.

Reflecting on these experiences, Mahama pointed out that many entrepreneurs face similar challenges. Employees often view their employers' businesses as stepping stones for their own ventures.

He mentioned that some Ghanaian business owners hire foreign managers due to trust issues with local personnel. The president urged professionals in Ghana to adopt dedication and integrity in their work.

He emphasized the need for trustworthy individuals committed to growing businesses rather than exploiting them for personal gain. “We must focus on finding dedicated management,” he said.

Mahama concluded by stressing that this issue reflects poorly on Ghana's human resources and needs urgent attention.