Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, is urging participants of the first cohort of the Adwumawura Programme to uphold high standards of discipline, commitment and professionalism.
Speaking during a working visit to some programme hubs in Accra, the Minister noted that personal conduct, dedication to learning and adherence to the programme’s guidelines are critical to participants’ success.
“Entrepreneurship is challenging. It is tough, and it is not going to be a stroll in the park. If anybody tells you that once you leave here you are ‘done,’ he or she is deceiving you,” he said.
He explained that the programme offers participants valuable support through mentors who will guide them through difficult moments.
“Every step can sometimes become very steep, and it is during those moments that you need someone with more experience; someone who has gone through similar challenges and can guide you,” he added.
Opare Addo also highlighted the importance of networking, encouraging participants to build strong connections with their colleagues.
“You are building a big network here, so don’t just be a participant. Build the right connections and form the right friendships. It is those relationships you will later leverage,” he stated.
According to him, many entrepreneurs do not fail because they lack passion, but because they lack discipline.
“If you are going to succeed in business, if you will truly thrive as an entrepreneur, what you need to propel your business is discipline. Without discipline, you will fail. We can give you all the money in the world and provide all the training available, but if you are not disciplined, the business will still fail,” he added.
He reminded participants that customers are central to every business, noting that even difficult customers often bring the most opportunities.
The Adwumawura Programme is a flagship initiative of President John Dramani Mahama aimed at supporting at least 10,000 youth-owned businesses annually through capacity building, mentorship, coaching, and grants for 2,000 viable and scalable enterprises.
The initiative focuses on providing business development services, startup incubation and funding to help young businesses grow and become successful.
According to the Minister, the programme represents Ghana’s national vision for entrepreneurship and job creation.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh / Benjamin Sackey
