Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has met with the press ahead of the 2025 edition of the Kwahu Business Forum, scheduled to take place on April 19th.
The forum, which returns for its second edition under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, seeks to create a practical roadmap for the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with a strong focus on agro-processing, manufacturing, and export-driven industries.
In his address, Mr. Debrah highlighted the President’s determination to go beyond rhetoric and deliver tangible results in the SME sector.
“President Mahama wants to be a president who walks the talk, not just talk and leave it. His vision is to grow businesses that are real, that produce for exports, and ultimately drive economic transformation,” he said.
Reflecting on last year’s inaugural forum, held while Mahama was still a candidate, Mr. Debrah recalled how the President had directly engaged members of the business community, asking for their expectations should he win office.
“Now that he’s President, he is fulfilling that promise,” Debrah said.
This year’s forum will be significantly larger in scope, with nearly all public-owned financial institutions confirmed to participate. Notably, many of the Managing Directors and CEOs of these banks have personally committed to attending, signaling the high level of importance the event holds.
Financial institutions such as the Agricultural Development Bank, National Investment Bank, Republic Bank, and others will present funding opportunities tailored for entrepreneurs, particularly those focused on agro-processing and manufacturing.
The African Development Bank has also shown strong interest, with its country representative scheduled to attend.
The event format will include segmented sessions, each dedicated to a key sector. These will run concurrently with a major exhibition featuring booths from participating banks, allowing entrepreneurs to interact directly with finance experts and pitch their ideas.
On Sunday, the exhibitions will continue even though the main forum discussions will have concluded, ensuring ample time for networking and engagement.
Mr. Debrah also revealed a unique initiative tied to the forum’s outcomes: each bank will select at least five bankable projects to support in 2025.
“If we keep this going every year for the next five years, by the end of President Mahama’s first term, we could have supported over 600 businesses. That is how transformation starts,” he explained.
Looking ahead, the Chief of Staff expressed optimism that the Kwahu Business Forum will evolve into a national event.
“It may have started with a regional identity, but the vision is national. In time, it could bring together entrepreneurs, government agencies like the GRA, and financiers from across Ghana to drive real change in the private sector,” he said.
Mr. Debrah concluded with a rallying call for support:“Without a thriving private sector, we won’t see real development. This forum is a welcome idea, and I support it fully. It’s a new era for business growth under President Mahama.”
By: Shadrack Odame Agyare | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
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