The Chief of Staff, Hon. Julius Debrah, has affirmed that President John Dramani Mahama’s government is firmly on track to transform Ghana’s economy and establish the country as the premier manufacturing hub of the West African sub-region.
Delivering a keynote address at the opening of the third edition of the Kwahu Business Forum on Friday, April 3, 2026, Hon. Julius Debrah disclosed that the government is resolute in its commitment to partner with the private sector and shift Ghana from a predominantly production-based economy to a robust, manufacturing-driven one that fully harnesses the nation’s resources for the benefit of all citizens.
He stressed that for Ghana to emerge as the leading manufacturing powerhouse in the sub-region, a fundamental paradigm shift in its economic trajectory is essential and that the government is committed to creating the conducive and enabling environment where entrepreneurs and manufacturers can thrive.
While decrying the persistent limitations of the existing “Guggisberg economy,” Hon. Julius Debrah called on Ghanaian policymakers, entrepreneurs, and investors to rise to the challenge, hammering that the time has come for Ghana to move beyond being a nation of immense potential to one that builds industries with widespread trickle-down benefits across the economy.
He maintained that the moment has arrived to convert ideas and potential into factories and gainful employment and that it is only through such concrete transformation can the nation achieve enhanced revenue generation, expanded GDP, and significant job creation.
“Let this Forum send a powerful message from the hills of Kwahu to every corner of Ghana: that we are ready to build, ready to produce, ready to lead, and ready to uplift others as we rise.
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“This is our time not merely to discuss Ghana’s economic destiny, but to shape it. Our time to transform potential into factories, jobs, exports, innovation, and hope. Our time to evolve from an economy known primarily for commerce into one respected globally for production, value addition, and competitive excellence,” he declared.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the Kwahu Business Forum in advancing Ghana’s ambition to become West Africa’s manufacturing hub, Hon. Julius Debrah stated that the event serves as a vital platform not only for discussing the country’s business landscape but also for forging strong, actionable collaborations between government and the private sector.
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“This Forum is not a mere ceremony. It is a powerful instrument where policy meets practice, where capital meets creativity, where enterprise meets opportunity, and where public leadership and private sector ambition converge in a unified national dialogue.
“Over the course of this gathering, we will witness networking, exhibitions, investment engagements, and the exchange of ideas. Yet beyond all these, our core objective is to build a stronger, more productive relationship between government and business, between established corporations and emerging entrepreneurs, and between ambition and execution,” he added.
The third edition of the Kwahu Business Forum opened today, Friday, April 3, 2026, at the state-of-the-art Kwahu Convention Centre on Mpraeso Hill in the Eastern Region.
The forum, which has become a flagship event during Easter celebrations in Ghana, is witnessing impressive participation, with over 1,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers in attendance.
It seeks to facilitate meaningful networking, promote investment partnerships, and provide platforms for businesses of all scales to showcase their products and services.
Participants will also benefit from insightful masterclasses and practical wisdom shared by accomplished business leaders, particularly from the Kwahu enclave on building resilient and thriving enterprises.
