By Benjamin A. Commey
Accra, Jan. 15, GNA – The Africa Future Leaders Institute of Global Affairs (AFLIGA) and the Frimpong Manso Institute have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly strengthen leadership, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment for women and youth in Ghana, especially within faith-based institutions.
The partnership brings together AFLIGA’s expertise in civic leadership, enterprise development, and digital learning with FMI’s experience as a Christian national think-tank known for ethical, evidence-based interventions.
The collaboration is expected to design and implement programmes that equip faith-based women and young people with entrepreneurial skills, financial literacy, digital competencies, and leadership development opportunities.
Speaking at the signing of the MoU, in Accra, Reverend Professor Paul Frimpong Manso, Founder and President of the FMI, said the alliance would focus on practical empowerment by connecting faith values with enterprise and innovation.
He noted that key areas of collaboration include mentorship and coaching networks, entrepreneurship and innovation training, policy dialogue and advocacy, enterprise incubation, access to markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and co-hosted leadership and empowerment events.
“The partnership also aims to mobilise resources and strategic alliances to support sustainable initiatives that create measurable social and economic impact,” he said.
Prof. Manso underscored the broader vision behind the initiative, stating that Ghana’s religiosity must shift “from mere fraternity to function; from pageantry to purpose; from convocation to causative living; and from over-spiritualization to practical spiritual impact.”
He emphasised that faith-based institutions commanded significant trust and participation within the informal sector, making them critical partners in empowering entrepreneurs across all regions of the country.
Dr Emmanuel Dei-Tumi, the Executive Director of AFLIGA, revealed that one of the major programmes planned for this year was the Religion and Enterprise Summit, scheduled to coincide with the United Nations’ celebration of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day on June 27.
He explained that the summit would explore ways of positioning faith-based and chieftaincy institutions as strong MSME enablers to help address challenges facing MSMEs in Ghana, especially those affecting women and young entrepreneurs.
Dr Dei-Tumi stressed that the summit recognised the need to redefine and rebuild a thriving MSME ecosystem through relevant models that enhance sustainability within Ghana’s emerging 24-hour economy.
He said, this required acknowledging the influence of institutions such as faith-based organisations and traditional authorities and integrating them meaningfully into national enterprise development efforts.
He added that the partnership sought to promote strategic collaboration among faith-based institutions, chieftaincy structures, and public and private sector actors within Ghana’s MSME ecosystem, ensuring these institutions were taken seriously as contributors to enterprise growth and economic transformation.
“AFLIGA and FMI envision this partnership as a catalyst for nurturing ethical, innovative, and globally competitive leaders who will contribute to inclusive growth and national development in Ghana,” he said.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade