Accra: Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has renewed his call for a decisive shift toward private sector-led growth, stressing that Ghana's long-term prosperity depends on entrepreneurship, innovation, and strong public-private partnerships. He said sustainable development could not be achieved through State dominance but through empowering individuals to take risks and create wealth within a clear and fair regulatory framework. Mr. Kufuor was speaking at the inaugural Design and Technology Institute (DTI) Legacy Dialogue Series on Entrepreneurship and the Future of Work, held in Accra under the theme 'Within Our Lifetime: Building Ghana's Industrial Future.'
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Kufuor highlighted that the State alone cannot enrich society, emphasizing the importance of private ventures in wealth creation, job generation, and societal advancement. Reflecting on Ghana's pre-independence economic trajectory, he traced his convictions to the era of the Gold Coast, when private initiative drove national success. He cited the 1940s when Ghana became the world's leading cocoa producer due to the market-driven efforts of ordinary citizens rather than government intervention.
Mr. Kufuor critiqued Ghana's post-independence adoption of statist economic models that hindered private enterprise and resulted in economic underperformance. He pointed to countries such as Malaysia, South Korea, and Singapore, which successfully embraced enterprise and industrial policy. These historical lessons, he noted, shaped his administration's policy direction, which aimed to usher Ghana into 'the golden age of business.'
He stressed that entrepreneurship should be a national development strategy supported by consistent policies and bipartisan commitment, identifying public-private partnerships as a practical solution to address youth unemployment and weak industrial growth. With a large youthful population, he warned that job creation cannot depend solely on the State.
The event, which gathered policymakers, development partners, traditional leaders, industry players, academics, students, and media, focused on examining the future of work and skills development. Ms. Constance Elizabeth Swaniker, Founder and President of DTI, emphasized the need for investments in practical skills and youth entrepreneurship to realize Ghana's industrial ambitions.
Ms. Swaniker highlighted the structural unemployment facing young Ghanaians, citing World Bank data showing a significant portion of youth not engaged in employment, education, or training. She outlined DTI's efforts to bridge the gap between formal education and industry needs through hands-on technical training. The institute's new Multi-Skills Campus at Berekuso aims to train thousands of learners annually and host an industrial park.
The dialogue concluded with Mr. Kufuor expressing optimism about Ghana's entrepreneurial heritage if the youth are properly trained and supported. Participants, including Velda Sosah and Martyn Mensah, underscored the importance of bridging the gap between education and employment through collaboration and investment in youth empowerment.
The DTI Legacy Dialogue Series is anticipated to become a regular platform for national conversations on Ghana's industrialisation, entrepreneurship, and the future of work.