President John Dramani Mahama

At the second edition of the Kwahu Business Forum, President John Dramani Mahama shared some challenges Ghanaian entrepreneurs face when trust and reliability are compromised in business.

He recalled a story from his early years in politics when he decided to support a relative by buying a bus to start a transport business, a decision that ended in failure.

“I bought a bus for a relative to run transport business so that he can look after the family at home and stop disturbing me on my small parliamentary salary. And they gave it to a driver who was a relatively good anytime you saw the bus, the bus had more load on top of it than in the bus”, he narrated.

He detailed how the axle of the bus eventually broke down, marking the start of a frustrating ordeal.

“The axle broke down, and it was the most regrettable experience in my life. When the axle broke down, they came to me to buy a new axle, anytime the bus broke down, they would come to me to come and repair it. And it was costing me more to repair the bus,” he stated.

He mentioned this incident to point out how difficult it is to find trustworthy people to work with these days.

“This driver used to live in the family house. While he was driving the bus, he procured the land, he started to build a house. The house reached lintel level when the bus finally broke down, and by then I had had enough. So, I refused to repair the bus and decided to dispose of it. And so, I sold the bus.

“This was like several years, maybe more than 10 years ago. And since I sold the bus, where the building reached lintel level, it is still at lintel level even till today. And so, what he says is very serious, getting trusted people to work with”, he stated.

The two-day forum, which is themed, “The Future of Business: The Role of the Financial Sector,” is designed to serve as a platform for dialogue between financial institutions and private sector players.

It convened policymakers, entrepreneurs, and investors to explore innovative strategies for economic development and private sector empowerment in Ghana and across Africa.

JKB/EB

GhanaWeb to stream Kwahu Business Forum as government targets 600 businesses by 2028

The 2025 edition of the Africa Makeup and Beauty Fair was opened on Friday, 18 April at Afrikiko Leisure Centre in Accra.

The three-day fair, which is expected to bring together the top brands in the makeup and beauty industry, that is in its 9th year, has attracted hundreds of exhibitors from Ghana and other African countries.

It was under the theme: “Thrive: Nurturing Brands & Innovation in a Changing Climate.”

As part of the opening ceremony, a fashion show that portrayed elegant hairstyles was organised while members of the American Global Dance Group put up some performances that thrilled the guests.

In attendance were the Acting Executive Secretary of Creative Arts Agency, Mr Gideon Aryeequaye,  female musician, Becca and Ghanaian actresses Martha Ankomah.

The programme lineup for the next three days includes panel discussions in which experts will discuss topics such as Green Beauty, Eco-Fashion, Networking, Business Development and Wellness.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chief Executive of Makeup Ghana, Rebecca Donkor, who doubles an organizer of the event, highlighted the significant progress the AMBF has made since its inception nine years ago.

She said the Africa Makeup and Beauty Fair has grown to become more than just an event but has been a thriving ecosystem where African beauty and wellness brands connect with global opportunities, adding that over the years, the event witnessed groundbreaking innovations, eco-conscious production, and inclusive beauty standards that continues to transform the industry.

Touting the impact it has created so far, Rebecca Donkor said the platform remains a beacon for networking, learning, and showcasing African excellence on the global stage.

She stated that this year’s theme is a call to action that challenges players to embrace creativity and resilience while fostering sustainable practices that drive innovation and elevate the industry as it is constantly evolving and the ability to adapt and innovate will determine the level of success.

She therefore called for more collaboration. According to her, when they work together, they can create an environment where businesses flourish, talents are nurtured, and the industry thrives.

“Let us continue fostering meaningful collaborations that drive sustainability, empower businesses, and position African beauty and wellness on the global stage,” she said.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Chief Executive Officer of National Petroleum Authority, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, has warned party members against engaging in illegal mining (galamsey).

Speaking on The KeyPoints on TV3 with Alfred Ocansey on April 19, 2025, Tameklo emphasised that any NDC member caught participating in galamsey would face serious consequences under the Mahama-led administration.

He made it clear that those involved in galamsey would not receive any protection or intervention from senior party officials.

“Don’t for a minute assume that something will happen, and then they’ll call ‘order from above.’ That order, if you are the one going to respond to it, you won’t get Dr Omane Boamah. He is not getting involved. No, you won’t get him,” he stated.

According to Tameklo, any NDC member who chooses to break the law by engaging in galamsey would lose the protection of the party and be seen as a threat to the core values and mission of the NDC.

He reiterated the importance of discipline and following legal avenues for livelihood, urging members to explore legitimate business opportunities rather than damage the party’s reputation with illegal activities.

“Please, please, please, there are plenty of legitimate businesses that, as an NDC member, you can pursue in this government. Don’t become a burden for President Mahama,” he urged.

He then described galamsey operators as “environmental terrorists,” stating the damage they cause to the ecosystem and the party’s integrity.

He also emphasized that the party would hold members accountable for their actions.

MRA/EB

GhanaWeb to stream Kwahu Business Forum as government targets 600 businesses by 2028

The iconic Kwahu Paragliding Festival has officially entered its 20th year, with a grand launch held on Saturday at the breathtaking Odweanoma Mountains.

The serene mountain range is the heart of all aerial action in Kwahu, making its significance to the paragliding festival evident.

First held in 2005, the festival has soared in popularity, attracting thrill-seekers and tourists from across the world.

It has also earned a remarkable reputation for safety, boasting two decades without a single fatality.

According to officials, the event continues to adhere to strict safety protocols, working closely with experienced pilots, medical teams, and security personnel to ensure a seamless and secure experience for both flyers and spectators.

As paragliders take flight and celebrations lift off across the Kwahu hills, the 20th anniversary promises not just thrilling moments in the skies but a continued commitment to excellence, safety, and cultural pride.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

President John Dramani Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has expressed optimism about Ghana’s economic future, promising recovery and prosperity.

Speaking at the Good Friday Miracle Service by the United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches at the Black Star Square, Accra, President Mahama assured that Ghana’s economic situation would improve, with more opportunities ahead.

Drawing inspiration from Christ’s resurrection, President Mahama said Ghana would overcome discouragement, hardship, and fear.

“I believe with all my heart that our dear nation Ghana shall rise again. Our economy shall recover, our youth will find opportunity, our families will flourish and thrive,” he said.

The President emphasised that economic restoration required collective effort, urging churches, businesses, and communities to unite and act truthfully.

“But that restoration will require that all of us—government, churches, businesses, communities—work together in unity and in truth. That will make our nation rise again,” he added.

President Mahama encouraged Ghanaians to reflect on Christ’s life and emulate His virtues to restore the nation’s fortunes.

He called for the rejection of pride, resentment, division, and hatred, while embracing love, burden-sharing, and sacrifice.

“Good Friday is a challenge to all of us. It challenges us to be more compassionate, it challenges us to forgive, it challenges us to have mercy—not just with words, but with our hearts,” he said.

President Mahama said that the day challenges “us to serve, and to serve not for praise, but to serve in humility.”

“It challenges us to trust God, even when the night is dark and the path is hard,” he said.

By Isaac Arkoh

Cape Coast, April 19, GNA – The Chief of Komenda-Kokwado, Nana Kwansa III, on Good Friday, brought Easter to life with a heartfelt celebration, embracing orphans, widows, widowers, aged and differently abled individuals in a day filled with joy and unity.  

The event was not only a festive occasion but also a powerful reminder of the Chief’s commitment to uplifting the most vulnerable members of his community. 

The atmosphere got to a crescendo as gospel superstars including Joyce Blessing and SP Kofi Sarpong delivered soul-inspiring performances, blending faith and socialisation in an unforgettable Easter experience. 

From a memorable maundy Friday night that stretched into the early hours of Holy Saturday dawn, elders, widows, religious groups, and people from all walks of life came together in an extraordinary celebration.  

They joyfully danced through the night to sensational gospel renditions, their voices, and spirits united in powerful praise, thanking God for His unwavering guidance and blessings until dawn. 

The celebration formed part of the Nana Kwansa’s one-year anniversary which saw hundreds of the celebrants gifted with hampers and other assorted items. 

Handing over the items, the Nana Kwansa expressed gratitude to God and his people for the opportunity to serve them in dignity. 

He called for increased community support and urged corporate institutions to bring economic relief to the people through job creation. 

Nana Kwansa stressed the need for peace in the area to help attract and retain investments for the good of all and appealed to the government to speed up the construction of the road network in the community to ease commuting challenges that had resulted in exorbitant fares. 

Among those touched by Nana Kwansa’s  generosity was Madam Akosua Mensah, a widow who expressed profound gratitude, saying: “This celebration has brought light into my life.  

“For the first time, I feel truly valued in our community. Nana Kwansa’s kindness has given me hope for a better future.”  

Similarly, Mr Kwame Boateng, who is differently abled, said “Being included in this special Easter event makes me feel part of the family.  

Our Chief’s support will inspire others like me to believe in ourselves,” he said adding that the gesture was novel in the community. 

A 75-year-old widow, Maame Akoa told the Ghana News Agency that the occasion was a testament of a devoted leader who sought to transform Komenda-Kokwado into a thriving and united community. 

Other beneficiaries and community members also lauded Nana Kwansa for his unwavering dedication to development since ascending the throne just a year ago. 

They mentioned the construction of a new palace, symbolising progress and renewal, and his commitment extending beyond tradition to tangible improvements in education, health, sanitation, and women empowerment.  

They praised his initiatives to improve school facilities, enhance healthcare access, upgrade roads, and promote hygiene, all aimed at raising living standards.  

Some women particularly appreciated his programmes designed to economically empower all women regardless of age. 

GNA 

AT/LAA 

By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu

Tsiame (VR), April 19, GNA – Hundreds of residents at Tsiame and beyond in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region, have throng in to receive Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority leader and Member of Parliament for Efutu, to his ancestral hometown. 

The excitement and enthusiasm displayed by the crowd attest to the high esteem in which Mr Afenyo-Markin was held by the people of Tsiame, as part of the homecoming to empower women in business.  

Mr Afenyo-Markin, in his address at the occasion, said the turnout for the event was significant and a testament to his impact on the lives of the people. 

“My visit to Tsiame is significant not only for the community but also for the country. It highlights the importance of community engagement and the role that prominent individuals can play in promoting development and progress,” he said. 

He said the move was also to support, motivate and give hope to women and young ladies in the area through benevolence, to improved living standard of the residents.   

The MP noted that the people of Tsiame and the entire Municipality had high expectations for future endeavours, while others were eager to see how various support would continue to contribute to the development of the community. 

“My donations of hairdryers, sewing machines, and others are from my free heart, I am not in any way preparing myself to be an independent candidate or whatsoever for Keta constituency, it will never happen, I just deem it fit to extend a helping hand to my own people in my own town. 

Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe, the MP for Keta, who also witnessed the occasion, thanked Mr Afenyo-Markin for the kind gesture that would boost the apprenticeship programmes started in the area. 

He urged other colleague MPs to emulate the Minority Leader, to help alleviate the plight of the people in the various constituencies and asked the beneficiaries to utilise the items for the rightful purposes for their economic sufficiency. 

Mr Bernard Suka, the former Assembly Member of Tsiame and Deputy New Patriotic Party (NPP) Keta Constituency Secretary, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said that the achievements and contributions of Mr Afenyo-Markin to the area had not gone unnoticed. 

He said the dedication of the Minority Leader to public service and the commitment to making a positive impact on his community had earned him widespread recognition and admiration in the whole region and beyond. 

Mr Suka said the people of Tsiame were proud of Afenyo-Markin’s accomplishments and were anxious to celebrate his achievements and the warm welcome reflected the community’s appreciation for his hard work and dedication to making a difference in the lives of others. 

He said that Afenyo-Markin’s impact on the community extended beyond his professional achievements and becoming a role model for many young people in the area as well as inspiring others to work hard and pursue their dreams. 

He said the Minority Leader’s support to women which included over 30 hairdryers, sewing machines worth thousands of cedis to Tsiame residents would impact positively on the community.  

Some women, who were beneficiaries of the gesture, expressed excitement about the donations and pledged to use the items for their intended purposes. 

GNA 

MA/CAA 

Ghana’s Black Satellites have left for the upcoming CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament to be staged in Egypt.

Desmond Ofei and his players, as well as the technical team, left the Kotoka International Airport on Saturday, April 19, ahead of their participation in the competition.

This comes following months of preparations after booking a return to the continental stage following their second-place finish at the WAFU B qualifiers last year.

The Satellites finished behind eventual winners Nigeria during the tournament in Togo.

16 players travelled with the team on Saturday, with some foreign-based players also expected to join them in Egypt for the competition.

Prior to leaving for Egypt, the team met the president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, on Friday.

Ghana is in Group C alongside defending champions Senegal, DR Congo, and the Central African Republic

With 13 teams competing across three groups from April 27 to May 18, the Black Satellites face a demanding schedule that could lead them through the quarterfinals, semifinals, and ultimately, the final.

The tournament is also the qualifiers for the next edition of the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup.

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President John Dramani Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to establish a National Venture Capital Fund aimed at supporting youth and women-led businesses across Ghana.

Speaking at the Kwahu Business Forum on Saturday, April 19, 2025, the President revealed that the fund will serve as a catalyst for entrepreneurial growth, providing critical financial support to help young people and women scale their businesses.

He further noted that the government will introduce regulatory reforms to encourage banks and financial institutions to increase lending to productive sectors of the economy.

“We will launch a national venture capital fund to support youth and women-led businesses and introduce regulatory reforms that encourage banks and financial institutions to lend to the productive sectors of the economy. In all of this, financial inclusion will be at the heart of this agenda. No economy can grow if its people remain excluded from the formal financial systems” he said.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana’s private sector and ensure inclusive economic development.

SP/MA

Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George

The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has stated that the One Million Coders Programme is not a knee-jerk policy initiative, emphasising that the plan has been in development for years.

Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey, he clarified that the programme is rooted in a long-term vision first articulated by former President John Dramani Mahama in 2019.

The programme, officially launched on April 16, 2025, across Accra and other satellite locations, aims to equip one million Ghanaians with digital and coding skills to foster innovation, job creation, and economic transformation.

The broader objective is to transition citizens from being digitally native to becoming AI native.

“John Mahama is a man who has vision beyond measure. This plan is not a knee-jerk reaction. He announced this plan for the first time in 2019. So we’ve had six years to build the model, six years to understand what we are about, six years to build the arrangements. So this is not one of those plans. But on top of John Mahama’s vision and meticulousness, you have Sam George as Minister of Communications. Anybody who’s followed my politics knows that I don’t get involved in something, I fail, and I always get vindicated by time,” he said.

Sam George assured the public that the initiative is being taken seriously and not treated as a political gimmick, highlighting his track record of advocating for policies that stand the test of time.

He also highlighted ongoing partnerships with global tech players, noting that Google-owned C-Squared is supporting the project by providing high-speed internet connectivity to training centres.

In addition, Ghana’s own National Information Technology Agency (NITA) is extending last-mile connectivity to ensure smooth programme delivery.

“I mean, if you look at my advocacy, for example, on family values, I’m sure yesterday you saw the ruling from the UK Supreme Court. The West is aligning with my position and my thinking. What the UK Supreme Court is arriving at on the 16th of April 2025, I spoke about in 2021, four years ahead of time. So long as I’m running this, you can be rest assured. It’s not going to be one of those political gimmicks.

“This is serious business for me. It won’t fail, I won’t fail. And that’s why, for example, I mentioned C-Squared. C-Squared is a Google affiliate. In fact, it’s a company owned by Google. And we’re working with them to ensure that we have high-speed connectivity. Apart from that, NITA, which is a state-owned agency, has last-mile connectivity to quite a number of the CICs. And so we’re making sure that everywhere we are connected to, where the training will happen, there’s going to be high-speed internet, dedicated high-speed internet to those locations, the facilities themselves. And we are ensuring that as a whole, as a country, we’re able to bring in a bit more,” he said

According to the minister, the initiative is part of a broader national effort to position Ghana as a leading hub for AI-competent human capital in Africa.