Let’s prioritise private sector development – Former President Kufuor

Ghana's former President John Agyekum Kufuor has issued a powerful call for a national recommitment to private sector development, asserting that Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are the essential catalysts for our nation's progress. Speaking at a dialogue organized by the Design Technology Institute (DTI), Kufuor articulated a vision rooted in the understanding that true prosperity is forged through entrepreneurship and diligent work – principles that propelled Ghana to global prominence in cocoa production decades ago.

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prosperity and growth of society all happen on the backs of entrepreneurship and work

Kufuor’s remarks resonate deeply within Ghana, where the debate over the role of the state versus the private sector has shaped our economic trajectory since independence. He rightly points to the "state capture" that stifled innovation and growth in the post-independence era, a stark contrast to the private-sector-friendly environment his own administration fostered. His personal anecdotes, tracing his beliefs back to his upbringing in Kumasi and the success of individual farmers, underscore a fundamental truth: that empowering the private citizen is key to national advancement.

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It wasn’t the government as such that farmed, but produced cocoa that made this little country the number one producer in the whole world. The average farmer was not doing bigger than, say, five acres but they did it because they sensed the profitability of their efforts

This perspective is particularly vital as Ghana navigates the complexities of the modern global economy. While international discourse often focuses on government-led initiatives, Kufuor reminds us that the true engine of growth lies in the ingenuity and drive of our own people. The DTI, by bringing together seasoned leaders like Kufuor and emerging voices, is fostering a crucial intergenerational dialogue on how best to cultivate this entrepreneurial spirit. Their work echoes the foundational calls for industrialization made by leaders like Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, demonstrating a continuous national aspiration for economic self-reliance and capability.

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state capture

From a Ghanaian standpoint, Kufuor's emphasis on the private sector is not merely an economic strategy; it is a reaffirmation of our inherent potential and a rejection of dependency. It is about harnessing the dynamism that made the Gold Coast a world leader and applying it to today's challenges. The success of initiatives like DTI, which celebrate and build upon the legacy of our visionaries, is paramount to ensuring that Ghana not only survives but thrives, achieving in a generation what others took centuries to accomplish.

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what other countries have taken 300 years or more to achieve, a once dependent territory must try to accomplish in a generation if it was to survive