Former President John Mahama has reaffirmed his dedication to fostering a thriving business environment in Ghana.

Speaking at the opening of the Kwahu Business Forum in Mpraeso, Eastern Region, on April 19, Mahama assured participants that the government remains committed to creating a prosperous future for Ghanaian enterprises.

“We are pursuing a targeted programme to restore investor confidence by enhancing transparency, cutting bureaucratic red tape, and promoting a rules-based investment climate. We are prioritizing sectors that can absorb labour and grow our economy sustainably— agro-processing, ICT, manufacturing, tourism, renewable energy, and the green economy,” he said.

The Forum is under the theme, “The Future of Business: The Role of the Financial Sector.”

According to him, “But our focus is not only on attracting foreign investment. We are equally committed to empowering Ghanaians to become owners and drivers of enterprise. That is why my government will support the private sector not just with policy, but with decisive action:

• We will expand access to affordable financing through the Ghana Development Bank, the Women Development Bank, and partnerships with private financial institutions.
• We will support SMEs with targeted financing, tax incentives, and technical support.
• We will modernize infrastructure—including roads, logistics, and digital connectivity—to create an environment where businesses can thrive.
• We will reduce the cost of borrowing by reforming credit systems and supporting blended finance instruments.
• And we will retool the financial sector to serve the real economy—not just government borrowing or speculative trading.”

“We will also 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 productive sectors of the economy. Financial inclusion will be at the heart of this agenda. No economy can grow if its people remain excluded from formal financial systems. We will work with banks, fintechs, and mobile money operators to expand access to financial services, particularly in rural and underserved communities,” he stressed.

Read full speech below:

https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://3news.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SPEECH-BY-H.E.-JOHN-DRAMANI-MAHAMA-PRESIDENT-OF-THE-REPUBLIC-OF-GHANA-AT-THE-KWAHU-BUSINESS-FORUM-MPRAESO-%E2%80%93-SATURDAY-19TH-APRIL-2025-THEME-THE-FUTURE-OF-BUSINESS-THE-ROLE-OF-THE-FINANCIAL-SECTOR-.pdf