President John Dramani Mahama says the biggest challenge facing entrepreneurs in Ghana is not capital but finding honest and reliable people to work with.
Speaking at the Kwahu Business Forum, he shared that many business owners have complained to him about the struggle to find trusted staff who won’t undermine the businesses they’re hired to support.
“There are several businessmen who have told me that one of the major hindrances they face in business is not even capital. It is getting trusted people to work with,” he said. “If somebody comes to work for you, he thinks your business is a platform for him also to build his business.”
To illustrate the point, Mahama recounted how he once bought a bus for a relative to help them support their family. A driver was hired to run the business, but frequent breakdowns led to constant repair costs.
Meanwhile, the driver was saving his share of the proceeds to build a house. When the bus eventually broke down and was sold off, the house project stalled.
Mahama says this mentality is harmful to productivity and progress, and it must change if Ghana’s private sector is to grow sustainably.
