By Kwesi Amoafo-Yeboah
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It is an honour to stand before you today—not just as a guest, but as a fellow Ghanaian who has walked the road of business, public service, and national vision.
Ghana is no longer just a gateway to West Africa. We are becoming the engine of Africa’s new industrial future.
In 1957, when Ghana gained independence, our founding fathers envisioned a self-reliant nation. That dream still lives—if we, Ghanaians, choose to act.
In 2008, I sought the presidency—not out of ambition, but out of a firm belief that Ghana could rise if we committed to building from within. That belief has never wavered.
Today, recent global shifts—like the abrupt cancellation of programs under USAID and evolving international norms—make this vision more urgent than ever. These changes remind us that dependency is not a development model.
The world economy is changing. Trade wars, rising tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and inflation are hitting hard. Major economies are turning inward, protectionism is rising, and competition is becoming more intense.
We cannot afford to rely on others to secure our future. If we fail to industrialize and digitize, we will fail.
That is why this summit is so important. The theme— “Promoting Regional Industrialization and Business Integration”—is not just about economics; it is about survival. More importantly, it is about sovereignty.
The 24-hour economy must be the engine that keeps Ghana moving while the rest of the world sleeps. It is not just about staying open longer—it is about fostering a business culture that is agile, responsive, and globally competitive.
Imagine a Ghana where ports never sleep, factories hum through the night, tech hubs code through dawn, and services run uninterrupted. This is the promise of the 24-hour economy.
The Buy Ghana Agenda must evolve—from a campaign to a culture, from rhetoric to regulation, from a wish to a working system where local producers thrive because policies and practices support them.
Our consumption must lead us to our economic sovereignty.
We must manufacture for growth—not just for local consumption, but to fuel exports, reduce imports, and establish Ghana as a key supplier for the region and beyond.
In today’s digital and creative landscape, where ideas and innovation drive progress, we must prioritize the development of platform-based solutions and artistic creations that reach and impact regional and global audiences.
This is where AfCFTA becomes critical. Ghana is proud to host the AfCFTA Secretariat, but we must also lead in making it work. We must be among the first to prove that regional trade is not just theory— it is a practical pathway to self-reliance and shared prosperity.
The African Continental Free Trade Area offers us access to a market of over 1.4 billion people, with a combined GDP of 3.4 trillion dollars. If we focus on high-quality production, effective packaging, smart trading, and seamless cross-border payments, Ghanaian goods can dominate African shelves—not foreign ones.
But to achieve this, we must build our capacity—industrial, logistical, and digital. We must break down internal barriers so we can seize the external opportunities AfCFTA provides. This includes strategic infrastructure investments and harmonization of standards and payment systems across the continent.
I come from a background of entrepreneurship and innovation. I have witnessed firsthand the power of equipping people with the right tools, trust, and opportunity to build. And I have also seen what happens when systems fail to support visionaries.
Let us not waste this moment.
Let this summit serve as a catalyst for real partnerships—between the public and private sectors, between Ghana and her neighbours, between government and grassroots entrepreneurs. By working together, we can turn vision into action and fulfill the aspirations of our founding fathers.
So, my call to action is simple:
Let us turn the 24-hour economy into policy—and make it practical.
Let us buy Ghanaian by default, not as an exception.
Let us produce not only for Ghana but for Africa and beyond.
Let us make AfCFTA work for businesses of all sizes.
And above all, let us restore belief in Ghana and the Ghanaian brand.
If we commit to these actions together, we will not merely navigate the challenges of the new world economy—we will thrive in it.
So…
Together, let’s build.
Together, let’s own.
Together, let’s grow—all things Made-in-Ghana.
This was (an edited version of) a speech delivered by Kwesi Amoafo-Yeboah, Chaiman of IZONE Ltd, at a recent event organized by Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana.
