Ahead of the second edition of the Kwahu Business Forum, the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Mr. Julius Debrah, held a crucial meeting with the top executives of Ghana’s leading state-owned financial institutions on Thursday.
The meeting, which took place at the Presidency, marked a pivotal step in preparations for the upcoming forum scheduled for Saturday, April 19, 2025. The theme for this year’s event, “The Future of Business: The Role of the Financial Sector”, underscores the significance of financial institutions in shaping Ghana’s business landscape.
The Kwahu Business Forum, a key initiative designed to foster collaboration between the financial sector and private enterprises, is set to serve as a vital platform for discussing investment opportunities, policy interventions, and strategies to enhance the competitiveness of Ghana’s business environment.
Mr. Debrah, who is also a respected businessman from the Kwahu region, emphasized President John Dramani Mahama’s ongoing commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to flourish. He reiterated the government’s dedication to supporting the private sector, as outlined in the President’s campaign promises, noting that the forum will help identify the practical financial solutions necessary to overcome challenges facing Ghanaian businesses.
The discussion focused on how to develop tailored financial solutions to address the diverse challenges faced by businesses in Ghana. Key topics included innovative support mechanisms to nurture entrepreneurship and transform small-scale ventures into large-scale industrial projects, as well as how to strengthen the role of financial institutions in helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) compete on a global scale.
“The financial sector has an essential role to play in providing the right tools and support to drive the growth of our local businesses. We are committed to ensuring that the financial institutions provide solutions that meet the needs of our entrepreneurs,” said Mr. Debrah during the meeting.
The brainstorming session was attended by several notable CEOs of state-owned financial institutions, including Mr. Sylvester Mensah, CEO of Exim Bank; Mr. Ato Sarpong, Managing Director of the Agricultural Development Bank; Mr. Doliwura Zakaria, CEO of the National Investment Bank (NIB); and Mr. Francis K. Arthur, CEO of the Ghana Export Promotions Authority. Other key participants included Mr. Daniel Wilson Addo, Managing Director of Consolidated Bank Ghana; Mr. Farihan Alhassan, MD of Ghana Commercial Bank; Mr. Michael Abbey, CEO of the Venture Capital Trust Fund; Dr. Randolph Nsor-Ambala, CEO of Development Bank Ghana; and Mr. Seth Terkper, Presidential Advisor on the Economy.
The presence of these industry leaders underscores the importance of the forum in fostering a collaborative approach to addressing the financial needs of Ghana’s burgeoning private sector. By bringing together policymakers and financial sector leaders, the Kwahu Business Forum aims to create a roadmap for building a more resilient, competitive, and diversified business ecosystem.
The Kwahu Business Forum is anticipated to draw a large audience of business leaders, policymakers, and investors, with discussions focused on aligning the goals of financial institutions with the needs of local businesses, especially those in the SME sector. By enhancing access to finance and expanding financial literacy, the forum aims to empower Ghanaian businesses to scale, innovate, and create jobs, while also attracting foreign investment to the country.
As preparations ramp up for the event, stakeholders are optimistic about the potential outcomes of the discussions, believing that the forum will contribute significantly to the development of a sustainable and inclusive financial ecosystem that will drive economic growth across Ghana.
