Osahen Speaks At Kwahu Biz Forum: Ghana’s Future Can’t Be Built On Partisan Loyalty

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, says Ghana’s future cannot be built on partisan loyalty and that it must rather be built on merit.

To him, those who deserve opportunity should be given opportunity – regardless of political affiliation.

Osahen, who was speaking at the 2nd edition of the Kwahu Business Forum, themed: “The Future of Business: The Role of the Financial Sector,” which was held at Abetifi recently, proposed the creation of a National Orientation Programme, focused on instilling values such as meritocracy, discipline, civic responsibility and entrepreneurship.

He described this as essential to reshaping the Ghanaian mindset towards long-term, sustainable growth.

The orientation programme, he suggested, should especially target the youth, who are often manipulated during election cycles, but abandoned when it comes to opportunities and development.

“They must not be supported only when they wear our party colours. They must be supported when they demonstrate potential, creativity, and drive,” he said.

Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin who is also the Member of Parliament for Effutu in the Central region, also said politicians have a responsibility to eliminate political interference in entrepreneurship.

“We have a responsibility to depoliticise entrepreneurship – to create an ecosystem where business owners can thrive without fear of being tagged or targeted,” he stated.

Mr Afenyo-Markin emphasied that the country’s future economic growth is inextricably tied to the success of its private sector.

He cautioned that the persistent politicisation of businesses has created an unfair environment where merit and creativity are often side-lined in favour of political affiliations.

“When we politicise local enterprise, we create an uneven playing field that stifles innovation and discourages risk-taking.

“When this happens, it is foreign businesses that stand tall and dominate our markets while our indigenous enterprises unfairly branded or side-lined are made to struggle,” he stated.

He urged political leaders to stop frustrating the efforts of local entrepreneurs simply because they may not be aligned with a specific political ideology.

Turning to the financial sector, the Minority Leader lamented the challenges local businesses face in accessing credit and called on banks and other financial institutions to become more responsive to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly those led by young people.

“The role of the financial sector in the growth of indigenous businesses cannot be overstated,” he noted adding “we must ensure that financial institutions play a more proactive role in supporting local enterprises not only in providing capital, but also in creating the opportunities that will allow these businesses to grow.”

He urged the development of innovative financial products tailored to the realities of Ghanaian entrepreneurs. This, he argued, would transform the private sector into the engine of job creation, reduce dependency on the overburdened public sector, and ultimately stimulate broad-based economic development.

Afenyo-Markin commended President John Dramani Mahama for initiating the Kwahu Business Forum, describing it as a crucial platform for not just dialogue, but also for catalysing action.

“This initiative is crucial for not only promoting dialogue, but also translating those conversations into tangible actions that can propel us toward a brighter economic future,” he said.

The Minority Leader concluded his remarks saying, “To the entrepreneurs and businesses present, I urge you to take full advantage of the opportunities before you.

“Invest boldly in your dreams, for they are the foundation of our collective future. Let us work together to build a business ecosystem where success is driven by merit, hard work, and opportunity not by politics.”

The post Osahen Speaks At Kwahu Biz Forum: Ghana’s Future Can’t Be Built On Partisan Loyalty appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.

Read Full Story