At times let us be real with our words of motivations: An entrepreneur is an innovator or developer who recognizes and seizes opportunities; converts those opportunities into workable ideas; adds value through time,effort, mo ... read full comment
At times let us be real with our words of motivations: An entrepreneur is an innovator or developer who recognizes and seizes opportunities; converts those opportunities into workable ideas; adds value through time,effort, money or skills; assume the risks of the competitive marketplace to implement these ideas, and realizes the rewards from these efforts. Now what is our market size? How sustainable are businesses in Ghana? Especially if you do not have a deep purse. Just being innovative does not solve our problems rather creating the enabling structures to make business sustainable. Seeing an opportunity to render a service is the easiest part but having a sustainable market is very critical.
OSEI TAWIAH 10 years ago
You seem to have some very good knowledge about economic issues. Can you please give us more incite on this as your analysis seem quite vague. I was beginning to understand your point but then I lost it at the end. Are you sa ... read full comment
You seem to have some very good knowledge about economic issues. Can you please give us more incite on this as your analysis seem quite vague. I was beginning to understand your point but then I lost it at the end. Are you saying we should develop through industries like Dr Nkrumah did?
Gogus 10 years ago
No Osei all I am saying entrepreneurship is not a full proof solution to unemployment and development. We need to create an enabling environment for sustainable business. Access to finance, market, accurate and reliable data ... read full comment
No Osei all I am saying entrepreneurship is not a full proof solution to unemployment and development. We need to create an enabling environment for sustainable business. Access to finance, market, accurate and reliable data. Mind you SME created by entrepreneurs do not recruit much Labour, they pay low incomes and there are no job securities. More importantly not everybody can be an entrepreneur.
Kay 10 years ago
He does not even know that when we industrialise, his pharmaceutical business will boom.
He does not even know that when we industrialise, his pharmaceutical business will boom.
CKP 10 years ago
WE ALSO NEED TO INDUSTRALISE SO AS TO BE ABLE TO ADD VALUE TO OUR NATURAL RESOURSES AND BY SO DOING CREATING JOBS. THIS DOC IS ONESIDED DOC. WE NEEDS TO BE HOLISTIC TAKING ALL THE FACTORS INTO CONSIDERATION TO BE ABLE TO DEVE ... read full comment
WE ALSO NEED TO INDUSTRALISE SO AS TO BE ABLE TO ADD VALUE TO OUR NATURAL RESOURSES AND BY SO DOING CREATING JOBS. THIS DOC IS ONESIDED DOC. WE NEEDS TO BE HOLISTIC TAKING ALL THE FACTORS INTO CONSIDERATION TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP.
Kojo T 10 years ago
1 We need both sides ofthe brain 2 Does entrepreneuralship not include industrialisation? What funny arguments
1 We need both sides ofthe brain 2 Does entrepreneuralship not include industrialisation? What funny arguments
OSEI TAWIAH 10 years ago
The man is talking about industries owned by government vrs industries owned by individuals. Please use brains a little bit and stop all those blind arguments.
The man is talking about industries owned by government vrs industries owned by individuals. Please use brains a little bit and stop all those blind arguments.
memenda 10 years ago
I agree with the doctor whole heartedly, how can you compete with China? Secondly, look what industrialization has done to china, people have to walk around wearing face masks because of pollution. I don't want that for our c ... read full comment
I agree with the doctor whole heartedly, how can you compete with China? Secondly, look what industrialization has done to china, people have to walk around wearing face masks because of pollution. I don't want that for our country. And lastly look at the nature of the Ghanaian, he/she does not want to work for anybody but themselves. If you have several small to medium enterprises supporting a close knit community I think that will be better than putting up gargantuan factories run by a political leaders idiot nephew and having no body turn up for work because there is a funeral.
Abena 10 years ago
Interesting analysis indeed. We have been bypassed by every era except the prehistoric era which we still figuring it out. Rightly so African don't or cannot think and Ghana is no exception. Our problems are self made and our ... read full comment
Interesting analysis indeed. We have been bypassed by every era except the prehistoric era which we still figuring it out. Rightly so African don't or cannot think and Ghana is no exception. Our problems are self made and our elected leaders ONLY think with their behind.
DEDE 10 years ago
PLEASE GO BACK AND LEARN PROPERLY UR ENGLISH IS APPOLLEN .UR IDEAS ARE VERY OLD AND YOU ARE POLLUTING THE MINDS OF GHANANIANS PRAY THE STUDENTS WILL FIND YOU OUT SOON.
PLEASE GO BACK AND LEARN PROPERLY UR ENGLISH IS APPOLLEN .UR IDEAS ARE VERY OLD AND YOU ARE POLLUTING THE MINDS OF GHANANIANS PRAY THE STUDENTS WILL FIND YOU OUT SOON.
Swapna 10 years ago
Accusing someone of bad english and turn around and use "APPOLLEN". What a world the Ghanaian lives in! OMG.
Accusing someone of bad english and turn around and use "APPOLLEN". What a world the Ghanaian lives in! OMG.
ROSALINDA 10 years ago
PLEASE, MAKE SURE YOU PUT SMILES OF THE FACE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES BEFORE PREACHING ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
PLEASE, MAKE SURE YOU PUT SMILES OF THE FACE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES BEFORE PREACHING ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
Kojo Tibu 10 years ago
Lady Dede, you could have made your points clearly without insulting Dr. Michael Agyekum Addo. If nothing at all, Dr. Addo has educated his house help to obtain first degree from a reputable state owned University. He values ... read full comment
Lady Dede, you could have made your points clearly without insulting Dr. Michael Agyekum Addo. If nothing at all, Dr. Addo has educated his house help to obtain first degree from a reputable state owned University. He values learning and critical thinking. You disagreed with his position which is right but why insult an elderly father, employer, club 100 business owner and a philanthropist?
Kofi 10 years ago
This guy is not making sense,when have industralization been too late for a particular country,continent or race?he should go to Brazil,thailand,agentina,mexico and ask them why are they industralizing.The industralized econo ... read full comment
This guy is not making sense,when have industralization been too late for a particular country,continent or race?he should go to Brazil,thailand,agentina,mexico and ask them why are they industralizing.The industralized economies are modifying new ways of production to cut cost,produce more and move the Product faster to market and maximize profit,so that doesn't mean the structures of industralization which have made them wealthier and healthier which the west and other economies of the east have failed,the structures are still intact but Everything is been digitalize maybe that is why is confusing him,l don't blame him,he is a african and old he doesn't know what is going on around in the World.Probably he might be thinking that village there in Accra is the centre of the World.Yes we need enterprenuership spirit in our youth but also need alot of techicians,inventors,scientist etc to put into emotion those ideas that might have come from the enterprenuers to create a Product or service and for that matter wealth.My question is how could one be a sucessful enterprenuer when even the basic structures to move all this Components to create a Product or service aren't there?.
Kwabena 10 years ago
Oh dear commentators, what the visionary doctor is saying is right. He is drawing our attention to the future which we as africans always seem not to see. I believe you are all talking about the same thing of industrialisatio ... read full comment
Oh dear commentators, what the visionary doctor is saying is right. He is drawing our attention to the future which we as africans always seem not to see. I believe you are all talking about the same thing of industrialisation as adding value to our products but with what? Doc means appropriate technology and not the automatic robots or machines which will rather make people redundant. Entrepreneurship is identifying opportunities and siezing them using appropraite tools, its about talents. This is the era we are in now. Why are the so called factories for garments,shoes, pharmaceuticals etc in Europe and America closed down. Bravo Doc, for letting us see what lies ahead for us to put in place the right policies. Politicians take heed and make hay while the sun shines. Use this man to help you.
Swapna 10 years ago
My brother, most of the folks on this forum seem not to have any clue as to what a "knowledge economy" is. Industrialization is past and gone, they must understand. Dr. Agyekum is right on the money!
My brother, most of the folks on this forum seem not to have any clue as to what a "knowledge economy" is. Industrialization is past and gone, they must understand. Dr. Agyekum is right on the money!
Owura Kofi 10 years ago
What kind of advice is that? In the first place, Dr. Addo is in manufacturing. His Kama Group of Companies manufacture pharmaceuticals. What is his definition of entrepreneurship? If he's advising the students or Ghana to fo ... read full comment
What kind of advice is that? In the first place, Dr. Addo is in manufacturing. His Kama Group of Companies manufacture pharmaceuticals. What is his definition of entrepreneurship? If he's advising the students or Ghana to focus on the knowledge economy, his presentation was off the mark. He should have stated that clearly. Besides, who told him that the era of industrialization has passed? Does he want Ghana to continue to export raw commodities and remain in the stone age? Or does he think that Ghana can develop by what we're currently doing- just buying and selling what others have manufactured? That isn't sustainable. No country has ever developed based on raw material exports or buying and selling what others have produced.
Entrepreneurship doesn't exclude industrialization. He argued that humans are being replaced by robots in industry. Does he find it necessary to train some of these students to develop and build robots for industry? Ghana needs entrepreneurs to add value to our raw commodities; get into the knowledge economy, and technology. We import every type of vehicle to Ghana, wouldn't it be wise for some current or future entrepreneurs to go into parts manufacturing? Ghana had Jute factory which manufactured cocoa sacks, now we have to import sacks. We import even toothpicks. While we have bamboos that can be turned into toothpicks. This man has forgotten or don't know that the excessive imports contribute to the high unemployment,stagflation and foreign debt? We train engineers and all sorts of other disciplines. Students must be encouraged to used their brains/skills to turn local raw materials into products than can solve our problems. High school students elsewhere are turning school projects into finished products. In Ghana there is about 14 hours of sunshine, why doesn't the Dr. advice the students to find out how they can turn some local raw materials into solar power? Come ooon Mr.
Kofi 10 years ago
The man is confuse and dangerous for our youth,where did he got his Doctrate degree from?These are those types of africans that don't read nor research but just talk for talking.
The man is confuse and dangerous for our youth,where did he got his Doctrate degree from?These are those types of africans that don't read nor research but just talk for talking.
Kofi 10 years ago
l don't even understand the Point in your arguement. what do you mean by appropriate Technologies? Technologies are always been modified and improve on their capacities to perform at the work Place and it will Always be soo, ... read full comment
l don't even understand the Point in your arguement. what do you mean by appropriate Technologies? Technologies are always been modified and improve on their capacities to perform at the work Place and it will Always be soo,every enterprenuer and for that matter innovator Always Think how best to produce faster and make more profit .And to answer your question why all those factories have Close down? No most of them moved their plants to where they could find cheap Labour to produce cheaper so it was all about the bottom line,they didn't fail.
American 10 years ago
"...he should go to Brazil, Thailand, Argentina, Mexico and ask them why are they industralizing."
Every nation that you mentioned has had decades-old, even century-old (Argentina), traditions in manufacturing. What those ... read full comment
"...he should go to Brazil, Thailand, Argentina, Mexico and ask them why are they industralizing."
Every nation that you mentioned has had decades-old, even century-old (Argentina), traditions in manufacturing. What those nations are doing is allowing foreign investment and expertise in transforming their old and obsolete industries to be more competitive in the face of the China onslaught. It's one thing to redirect old industrial sectors to new challenges; it's quite another to build an industrial sector from scratch.
Dr Robert K Glah 10 years ago
Industrialised society is the strategic goal of every political economy, like Ghana, in order to establish an international economic balance and relative independence. Industrialization means novation by adding value to commo ... read full comment
Industrialised society is the strategic goal of every political economy, like Ghana, in order to establish an international economic balance and relative independence. Industrialization means novation by adding value to commodities and services in a knowledge-based economy: the digital economy for profit motive.
Entrepreneurs, the people who undertake risk, are necessary part of that economy and they do not exist alone or in a vacuum but in an industrialised society with all sorts of skills.
Government has the dominant role of shaping that industrialised society.
Kofi 10 years ago
We need the capacity to manufacture some if not most of the things we consume. To build these industries however, we need entrepreneurs. BA Mensah was an industrialist and an entrepreneur. I dont see any contradiction.
We need the capacity to manufacture some if not most of the things we consume. To build these industries however, we need entrepreneurs. BA Mensah was an industrialist and an entrepreneur. I dont see any contradiction.
Hazor 10 years ago
So does this guy also have the audacity to call himself a Dr?.In my opinion ostrich is wise and knowledgeable than him.Can this guy be a leader?
So does this guy also have the audacity to call himself a Dr?.In my opinion ostrich is wise and knowledgeable than him.Can this guy be a leader?
American 10 years ago
I wish the professor defined his terms better. What does he mean by "industrialise"? Does he mean to include raw mineral extraction, refining, heavy manufacturing, or light manufacturing?
I can see merits to the doctor's a ... read full comment
I wish the professor defined his terms better. What does he mean by "industrialise"? Does he mean to include raw mineral extraction, refining, heavy manufacturing, or light manufacturing?
I can see merits to the doctor's argument in the case of heavy manufacturing.
Heavy manufacturing that results in mass production of low cost-per-unit products like cement, pig iron, generic drugs, or raw plastic has fled to China and India and is not coming back. Heavy manufacturing is viable only if the end products are of high value, such as automobiles, aircraft, and heavy artillery.
In light manufacturing, the salient issue is dumping. Africa as a whole is a dumping ground for the rest of the planet's excess production, and no nation has the clout to stop it.
Ghana has been no exception: the main reason why Ghana's industrial production fell from 10% to 7% is precisely due to dumping from Asia and western Europe. If Wal-Mart is allowed in African markets, it will be the death of the entire sector.
Yes, it would have been better if the nation had made massive capital investments during the first flush years of independence. (And under Nkrumah it did). Just as well, the new nation could have made better use of its unskilled and semi-skilled labor. The nation (the African continent, really) could have used patriotic fervor to put the surplus population to use building necessary infrastructure like highways and railroad paths at below cost. As the professor notes, that genie has fled the bottle.
Still, that doesn't mean that Ghana unemployed people should spend the rest of their existence on Facebook or creating iPhone apps. Ghana has
industrial competitive advantages that would be foolish to neglect just because industrialization is done "now" and not "then" (I am specifically thinking of
electrification export)
km agyin 10 years ago
All your entrepreneurial skills will amount to nothing if you do not have the basic amenities (electricity, water, effective transportation systems like first class roads and extensive railway system) to complement you. This ... read full comment
All your entrepreneurial skills will amount to nothing if you do not have the basic amenities (electricity, water, effective transportation systems like first class roads and extensive railway system) to complement you. This is what industrialization is about. Put these things in place and let the entrepreneurs do the rest i.e build the factories, the skyscrapers etc, etc. It is factories that can solve the unemployment problem not banking nor retail. We have abundant and cheap labor here and there is no need to automate things. You are way out of contemporary thinking, Mr KARMA.
serwaa bona 10 years ago
see who is talking of industralization taking over entrepreneurship,you have two factories and ur workers cant even boast of living in decent homes let alone good salaries.....university graduates even take 250 cedis at ur w ... read full comment
see who is talking of industralization taking over entrepreneurship,you have two factories and ur workers cant even boast of living in decent homes let alone good salaries.....university graduates even take 250 cedis at ur work place....excuse us!
At times let us be real with our words of motivations: An entrepreneur is an innovator or developer who recognizes and seizes opportunities; converts those opportunities into workable ideas; adds value through time,effort, mo ...
read full comment
You seem to have some very good knowledge about economic issues. Can you please give us more incite on this as your analysis seem quite vague. I was beginning to understand your point but then I lost it at the end. Are you sa ...
read full comment
No Osei all I am saying entrepreneurship is not a full proof solution to unemployment and development. We need to create an enabling environment for sustainable business. Access to finance, market, accurate and reliable data ...
read full comment
He does not even know that when we industrialise, his pharmaceutical business will boom.
WE ALSO NEED TO INDUSTRALISE SO AS TO BE ABLE TO ADD VALUE TO OUR NATURAL RESOURSES AND BY SO DOING CREATING JOBS. THIS DOC IS ONESIDED DOC. WE NEEDS TO BE HOLISTIC TAKING ALL THE FACTORS INTO CONSIDERATION TO BE ABLE TO DEVE ...
read full comment
1 We need both sides ofthe brain 2 Does entrepreneuralship not include industrialisation? What funny arguments
The man is talking about industries owned by government vrs industries owned by individuals. Please use brains a little bit and stop all those blind arguments.
I agree with the doctor whole heartedly, how can you compete with China? Secondly, look what industrialization has done to china, people have to walk around wearing face masks because of pollution. I don't want that for our c ...
read full comment
Interesting analysis indeed. We have been bypassed by every era except the prehistoric era which we still figuring it out. Rightly so African don't or cannot think and Ghana is no exception. Our problems are self made and our ...
read full comment
PLEASE GO BACK AND LEARN PROPERLY UR ENGLISH IS APPOLLEN .UR IDEAS ARE VERY OLD AND YOU ARE POLLUTING THE MINDS OF GHANANIANS PRAY THE STUDENTS WILL FIND YOU OUT SOON.
Accusing someone of bad english and turn around and use "APPOLLEN". What a world the Ghanaian lives in! OMG.
PLEASE, MAKE SURE YOU PUT SMILES OF THE FACE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES BEFORE PREACHING ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
Lady Dede, you could have made your points clearly without insulting Dr. Michael Agyekum Addo. If nothing at all, Dr. Addo has educated his house help to obtain first degree from a reputable state owned University. He values ...
read full comment
This guy is not making sense,when have industralization been too late for a particular country,continent or race?he should go to Brazil,thailand,agentina,mexico and ask them why are they industralizing.The industralized econo ...
read full comment
Oh dear commentators, what the visionary doctor is saying is right. He is drawing our attention to the future which we as africans always seem not to see. I believe you are all talking about the same thing of industrialisatio ...
read full comment
My brother, most of the folks on this forum seem not to have any clue as to what a "knowledge economy" is. Industrialization is past and gone, they must understand. Dr. Agyekum is right on the money!
What kind of advice is that? In the first place, Dr. Addo is in manufacturing. His Kama Group of Companies manufacture pharmaceuticals. What is his definition of entrepreneurship? If he's advising the students or Ghana to fo ...
read full comment
The man is confuse and dangerous for our youth,where did he got his Doctrate degree from?These are those types of africans that don't read nor research but just talk for talking.
l don't even understand the Point in your arguement. what do you mean by appropriate Technologies? Technologies are always been modified and improve on their capacities to perform at the work Place and it will Always be soo, ...
read full comment
"...he should go to Brazil, Thailand, Argentina, Mexico and ask them why are they industralizing."
Every nation that you mentioned has had decades-old, even century-old (Argentina), traditions in manufacturing. What those ...
read full comment
Industrialised society is the strategic goal of every political economy, like Ghana, in order to establish an international economic balance and relative independence. Industrialization means novation by adding value to commo ...
read full comment
We need the capacity to manufacture some if not most of the things we consume. To build these industries however, we need entrepreneurs. BA Mensah was an industrialist and an entrepreneur. I dont see any contradiction.
So does this guy also have the audacity to call himself a Dr?.In my opinion ostrich is wise and knowledgeable than him.Can this guy be a leader?
I wish the professor defined his terms better. What does he mean by "industrialise"? Does he mean to include raw mineral extraction, refining, heavy manufacturing, or light manufacturing?
I can see merits to the doctor's a ...
read full comment
All your entrepreneurial skills will amount to nothing if you do not have the basic amenities (electricity, water, effective transportation systems like first class roads and extensive railway system) to complement you. This ...
read full comment
see who is talking of industralization taking over entrepreneurship,you have two factories and ur workers cant even boast of living in decent homes let alone good salaries.....university graduates even take 250 cedis at ur w ...
read full comment