Watch as Ibrahim Mahama makes strong case for Ghanaian-owned businesses

Ghanaians must move beyond working for foreign-owned companies and build indigenous businesses that can be passed on to future generations, business mogul Ibrahim Mahama has said.

He said one of his motivations for establishing Dzata Cement was to demonstrate that Ghanaians have the capacity to build and manage major industrial enterprises.

“We can't always be beggars, and we can't only just be employees to foreign companies. We can build it ourselves,” he said.

He explained that establishing Dzata Cement was not solely about making money. According to him, it was also driven by a desire to challenge the perception that Ghanaians cannot build and own major industrial businesses.

“For far too long Ghanaians, I say Ghanaians. We put ourselves low, and we want to always slave, be the slave to the foreigners,” he said.

Ibrahim Mahama credits Akufo-Addo government, Alan Kyerematen for supporting Dzata Cement

He recalled a conversation with a former GHACEM executive, who he said told him that no Ghanaian could build a cement plant. He said the comment strengthened his determination to establish one and prove that Ghanaian entrepreneurs could undertake such projects.

He also highlighted the importance of succession, saying business founders must prepare younger generations to take responsibility for the companies they establish.

“We won't live forever. So sometimes we should give the children the opportunity to be able to take that risk of managing,” he said.

Drawing on his experience running Engineers & Planners for about 30 years, Ibrahim Mahama said his approach was to bring the younger generation into the business, teach them how it operates and gradually allow them to take over as the older generation moves towards retirement.

He pointed to Dzata Cement as an example, revealing that he had stayed away from the plant for about three years while its management team ran the company.

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He said Dzata Cement would not be his last effort to demonstrate what Ghanaian entrepreneurs can achieve. He maintained that Ghanaians have the capacity to build major businesses themselves and create enterprises that can survive beyond their founders and benefit future generations.

DR/MA

We Can’t Always Be Beggars – Ibrahim Mahama Pushes for Ghanaian-Owned Businesses



Ibrahim Mahama Credits Akufo-Addo, Alan Kyerematen for Supporting Dzata Cement