Minority Leader lauds Mahama for Kwahu Business Forum

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, praised President John Dramani Mahama. He commended him for starting the Kwahu Business Forum. This initiative is shaping the future of business in Ghana.

Afenyo-Markin spoke at the opening of the Second Edition of the Forum. It took place in Mpraeso, located in the Kwahu South District of the Eastern Region.

The Kwahu Business Forum aims to promote entrepreneurship and support small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It responds to the government's goal of expanding Ghana’s private sector capacity. This focus is especially on agro-processing and manufacturing sectors.

The Forum is a non-partisan national development agenda. It gathers business owners, investors, start-ups, and industry players to network. Participants share experiences and explore ways to raise capital from financial institutions.

The first forum occurred during the 2024 Easter festivities at Mpraeso. It successfully connected business leaders with young entrepreneurs who shared their insights with then-candidate John Mahama.

The theme for this Second Edition is: “The Future of Business: The Role of the Financial Sector.” Afenyo-Markin acknowledged all industry players present at the Forum. He expressed hope that this would lead to sustained support for entrepreneurship in Ghana.

He encouraged attendees to seize opportunities and invest boldly in their dreams. This investment forms a foundation for a collective future.

Afenyo-Markin urged political leaders to support local entrepreneurs and the private sector. He emphasized building a business ecosystem driven by merit and hard work rather than politics.

He described the Forum as an important platform for fresh ideas about Ghana’s economy. He reminded Ghanaians that their nation's future relies on active participation from private sectors, especially indigenous businesses.

He reiterated that Ghana's economic future depends on strength, agility, and resilience. Access to finance is crucial for local enterprises to grow and succeed.

“When we empower local businesses with capital, we boost productivity,” he said. This empowerment also creates new job opportunities.

In a country facing high youth unemployment, building an inclusive financial ecosystem is essential both economically and socially.

Afenyo-Markin has over two decades of experience in public service and private enterprise. He understands the challenges faced by Ghanaian entrepreneurs firsthand.

“I know what it means to raise capital and innovate under constraints,” he stated. His experiences have deepened his belief that entrepreneurship contributes significantly to nation-building.