By Leo Nelson
President John Dramani Mahama has framed the Kwahu Business Forum as a central pillar of his administration’s engagement with the private sector, outlining its evolution from a campaign idea into what he intends to become a permanent national platform for investment, financing and enterprise development.
Addressing the gathering, President Mahama said the forum was conceived during the 2023 campaign period as part of efforts to expand the commercial significance of the annual Kwahu Easter homecoming, traditionally one of Ghana’s largest internal migration and tourism events. The aim, he said, was to complement festivities with structured business networking and policy dialogue.
Since its launch in 2024, the forum has drawn banks, fintechs and small and medium-sized enterprises, with early outcomes now beginning to materialise. Mahama pointed to financing approvals by the Ghana Export-Import Bank for selected firms, including support for agribusiness expansion, as evidence that the platform is moving beyond dialogue into deal-making.
The president said government plans to institutionalise the forum with dedicated infrastructure, including a permanent convention and exhibition centre in Kwahu. The project, to be developed with private partners, is expected to position the area as a year-round destination for conferences and trade events.
Additional plans include upgrades to road networks to ease seasonal congestion and the long-term development of an airstrip to improve access for domestic and international visitors.
Mahama said the initiative reflects a broader strategy to decentralise economic activity and leverage regional strengths, particularly in trade and entrepreneurship, while strengthening linkages between policymakers, financiers and businesses.
He added that the forum would continue to serve as a platform for tracking commitments made by financial institutions and government agencies, with an emphasis on measurable outcomes rather than pledges.