Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen addressing the gathering
The maiden edition of EMPRETEC Ghana Foundation’s programme, dubbed ‘Meeting the Giants of Industry Evening Encounter’, has been held in Accra.
The programme, an informal platform for entrepreneurs to learn from big shots in the industry to help them grow and expand, was sponsored by Prudential Bank.
Speaking at the event, which was attended by scores of entrepreneurs the Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, underscored the indispensable role entrepreneurship plays in the development of every country.
According to him, the key to the prosperity and wealth of nations lies in the quality of its entrepreneurs and not the nation’s natural resources as many believe.
"Otherwise, how do you explain that Japan, with absolutely no natural resource, is the second or third most powerful nation in the world? And you consider many African countries that control virtually all the strategic natural resources in the world but are considered to be poor.”
He said Ghanaians must take entrepreneurship seriously to propel the country’s development.
Mr Kyerematen, citing the height to which entrepreneurs can reach, extolled Mark Zuckerberg, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Facebook, who, through his social media platform created in 2004, has an annual turnover of $27 billion, nearly half of Ghana’ gross domestic products (GDP).
“There is something in entrepreneurship we as Ghanaians ought to appreciate if we want to move forward,” he said and commended EMPRETEC Ghana for creating the platform for young entrepreneurs to excel.
The Chief Executive Officer of EMPRETEC Ghana, Emmanuel Dei-Tumi, in his welcome address, announced that the foundation would offer free training to entrepreneurs as part of its efforts to support the growth of the industry.
This, he said, would be done in collaboration with Invest in Africa (IIA), a not-for-profit organisation with the vision to create thriving African economies, which is absorbing the fees for the trainees.
He said the foundation would continue to build competencies of entrepreneurs through its evening encounters and other platforms, and urged entrepreneurs to take advantage of the various opportunities.
Mr Dei-Tumi said the programme would be organised every month to afford young entrepreneurs the chance to learn from others’ experiences and also network.
Mr Moses Baiden, CEO of Margins Group, sharing his experience, recounted his early years as an entrepreneur and how passion, persistence and perseverance has been a driving force of his exploits.
He urged entrepreneurs to be strong in the face of adversity and refuse to allow failure discourage them from pursuing their dreams, saying: “When you fall, get up, re-strategise and continue.”
He also asked them to plan and monitor their progress, utilise any opportunity and honour contract commitments to help build trust, which comes in handy in times of need.
CEO of Home Foods and Cannery Limited, Madam Felicia Twumasi, said financial gains must not be the sole reason for the establishment of business, and that businesses must impact society.
Sharing her experience with exports of food, she stressed the need for Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to place value on their products to attract customers and not allow minor setbacks to kill their dreams.
Deputy Managing Director (Banking Operations) of Prudential Bank, Mr Richard Acolatse said the bank, since its inception, had provided support for SMEs and would continue to collaborate with other institutions to offer more support.
Ato Panford, Member of Parliament for Shama Constituency and Chairman of the National Board for Small-Scale Industries, who presided over the event, commended EMPRETEC for supporting SMEs over the years.
