President John Dramani Mahama has outlined a bold and far-reaching vision for Ghana’s economic recovery and transformation at the 2025 Kwahu Business Forum, calling for a financial sector that serves every Ghanaian business and a business environment built on inclusivity, transparency, and productivity.
Speaking to a packed hall in Mpraeso, in the heart of Kwahu, President Mahama praised the entrepreneurial spirit of the region and described the Kwahu Business Forum as a critical platform for shaping Ghana’s future economic direction.
This year’s theme, “The Future of Business: The Role of the Financial Sector,” he said, was both timely and urgent.
“The financial sector is the bloodstream of any economy. Without it, businesses cannot grow, jobs cannot be created, and innovation cannot thrive,” Mahama said.
Acknowledging the economic headwinds Ghana has faced in recent years including high inflation, currency depreciation, and rising debt, President Mahama said the country was beginning to see signs of macroeconomic stabilization. But he warned that recovery alone was not enough.
“We must now set our sights higher—on transformation,” he declared. “We must build an economy that is resilient, inclusive, and productive.”
To achieve this transformation, President Mahama unveiled a suite of policy proposals aimed at retooling Ghana’s financial sector and supporting the real economy. These include:
- Expanding access to affordable financing through the Ghana Development Bank, the new Women Development Bank, and partnerships with private institutions.
- Supporting SMEs with tax incentives, technical support, and targeted financing packages.
- Modernizing infrastructure, including roads, logistics, and digital connectivity.
- Lowering the cost of borrowing through credit system reform and blended finance tools.
- Launching a national venture capital fund to empower youth- and women-led businesses.
President Mahama emphasized that financial institutions must be incentivized to lend to productive sectors of the economy, not just engage in government securities or speculative activity.
“A reformed financial sector must serve the real economy,” he stressed.
He also reiterated his commitment to promoting financial inclusion, particularly in rural and underserved communities, through collaboration with banks, fintech firms, and mobile money operators.
“No economy can grow if its people remain excluded from formal financial systems,” he said.
President Mahama’s vision extends beyond traditional economics. He outlined elements of his 24-Hour Economic strategy, aimed at boosting productivity and employment by creating the conditions such as reliable electricity and public safety for businesses to operate around the clock.
He also highlighted an upcoming Jobs and Skills Compact that would bring government, industry, and academia together to align skills training with market needs, and provide incentives for companies that create decent, sustainable jobs.
President Mahama ended his speech with a call to partnership.
“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,” he said.
The Kwahu Business Forum continues to grow in importance as a fixture in Ghana’s economic calendar, providing a rare meeting point for business leaders, policymakers, and innovators to co-create policies for sustainable national development.
By: Shadrack Odame Agyare | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
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