Accra, April 16, GNA – The third edition of the Kwahu Business Forum (KBF) has moved far beyond networking and dialogue, emerging as a powerful engine of economic transformation that is turning small business aspirations into concrete, bankable projects, according to senior organisers.
In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency after the close of the 2026 edition held at the Kwahu Convention Centre in Mpraeso, Mr Benjamin Essuman, Special Aide to the Chief of Staff and a core member of the Forum’s organising team, revealed that the platform had become a deal-making hub where businesses and financial institutions are forging partnerships that deliver measurable results.
“What started in 2024 as a modest stakeholder engagement during the Kwahu Easter homecoming has now become a catalyst for growth, offering inspiration, strategic guidance and practical pathways for businesses seeking expansion,” Mr Essuman said.
He disclosed that the Forum, now in its third year, had recorded a string of successes, with several small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) securing funding and technical support from major financial institutions, including the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and the Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM).
A standout success story is that of Dr Octavia Otoo of Golf Chemical Limited, who presented a proposal for a biofuel production project at the 2025 Kwahu Business Forum.
It said through engagements facilitated by the platform and the Office of the Chief of Staff, she successfully secured funding from ADB.
“The project is now progressing steadily in the Kwahu Afram Plains, demonstrating how the Forum is translating policy talk into on-the-ground industrial development.”
The statement said President John Dramani Mahama reinforced ADB’s pivotal role during a tour of exhibition stands at this year’s event.
“ Describing ADB PLC as “his bank”, the President commended the institution for its contributions to enterprise development, financial inclusion, and sustained support for agriculture and MSMEs – widely regarded as the backbone of the Ghanaian economy.”
The Ghana Export-Import Bank also showcased the Forum’s practical value.
Its Chief Executive Officer, Sylvester Mensah, disclosed during the 2026 Forum that three businesses that participated in the 2025 edition – Perferct End Logistics, Nobi Farms, and Rockmar Pharmaceutical – have secured full financial support and are now fully operational.
“These are clear examples of progress from dialogue to implementation,” Mr Mensah stated, emphasising that the Bank’s core mandate remains to “produce more, process more, and export more”. He expressed optimism that future editions would yield even more success stories of Ghanaian businesses expanding and creating jobs.
“Beyond these headline deals, the 2026 Forum delivered tangible support to hundreds of SMEs. The Office of the Registrar of Companies provided on-site registration services, helping hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises formalise their businesses to improve access to credit”.
On the theme “The Future of Business: The Role of the Financial Sector,” the Bank of Ghana and other financial institutions committed to easing access to capital for manufacturing start-ups. Exhibitors also reported strong engagement, with many securing partnerships to distribute Made-in-Ghana products.
The Forum’s closing message was unmistakable: Ghana must transition from a trading-based economy to a manufacturing powerhouse.
Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, widely credited as the driving force behind the Forum, declared that the time for rhetoric had passed.
“This forum is not a mere ceremony. It is a powerful instrument where policy meets practice. Ghana must produce more of what it consumes and process more of what it grows,” he stated.
Mr Essuman added that efforts are underway to transform the Kwahu Business Village into an international conference hub that will attract businesses and investors from across the world.
Traditional authorities in Kwahu have donated about 150 acres of land to support the development of a permanent business conference centre, with possible plans to construct an airstrip to facilitate domestic and international travel.
The Forum, which attracted over 1,000 entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers, continues to serve as a non-partisan space for networking, investment matchmaking, mentorship, and policy dialogue aimed at driving national development.
“The presence of the President at the Forum continues to boost confidence among businesses and deepen engagement,” Mr Essuman added and encouraged entrepreneurs to take advantage of partnerships, mergers, and government incentives, and to collaborate with institutions like the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority to access international markets.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba