The Kwahu Business Forum was conceived as a targeted intervention to strengthen entrepreneurship in one of Ghana’s most commercially vibrant regions, according to Benjamin Essuman, Special Aide to the Chief of Staff.
Speaking ahead of the 2026 edition, Mr Essuman revealed that the initiative was designed to provide structured support for entrepreneurs from the Kwahu area of the Eastern Region, drawing on the enclave’s long-standing reputation as a cradle of Ghanaian enterprise.
The forum, first held in 2024, has rapidly evolved into a notable fixture on Ghana’s business calendar, attracting increasing participation from companies and entrepreneurs across multiple sectors.
In an interview with the Kwahu Ambassador, Mr Essuman said the idea was rooted in a deliberate effort to harness the entrepreneurial DNA of Kwahu communities and connect it more directly to national development planning.
He explained that President John Dramani Mahama and the Chief of Staff, Mr Julius Debrah, saw the need for a platform that would narrow the gap between business operators and capital providers, particularly at a time when access to finance remains a major constraint for small and medium-sized enterprises.
“The Kwahu Business Forum is the brainchild of President John Dramani Mahama and his Chief of Staff, Mr Julius Debrah. In 2024, we brought together businesspeople from Kwahu to discuss the country’s business landscape and explore what then-candidate John Dramani Mahama could do for them if he won the election,” he said.
According to him, the maiden edition served both as a listening exercise and a strategic engagement with the private sector.
“It provided an opportunity to gauge the business community’s views on opportunities and challenges. The 2025 edition was an expanded version because the President tasked the Chief of Staff with bringing together all the banks. We discovered from the 2024 edition that access to capital was a major challenge for businesses, so funding was essential. As a result, we invited all the banks to Kwahu Mpraeso,” he added.
The second edition broadened the scope of participation, particularly by drawing financial institutions into direct dialogue with entrepreneurs, a move organisers believe has strengthened the forum’s practical relevance.
The 2026 edition, scheduled for April 3 to 5, is expected to build on that momentum. Organisers anticipate the participation of more than 1,000 entrepreneurs, business leaders and investors, with companies from the automobile industry, banking sector and other key industries set to attend.
Mr Essuman said the forum is intended not merely as a networking event but as a catalyst for growth, offering inspiration, strategic guidance and practical pathways for businesses seeking expansion.
As preparations intensify for the third edition, the Kwahu Business Forum is positioning itself as both a celebration of local enterprise and a policy-linked platform aimed at translating entrepreneurial ambition into measurable national impact.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
