By Francis Kwabena Cofie
East Legon, (G/A) July 04, 2025, GNA- A one- day summit dubbed “the legacy business summit” organised by the “Men of Integrity” of the Trinity Baptist Church, East Legon, has been held in Accra with a call on young employees not to make hasty decisions to abandon paid employment.
Rather, they should do calculated holistic analysis before switching to business entrepreneurship.
Alos, they have to take their time to learn all they could and build the relevant social capital while in paid employment to acquire the relevant experience and anchor before venturing out to start their own business.
In a keynote address, Solomon Osuoza, a Business and Tech Leader in Banking and Finance, who made the call in an interview, said to become a successful entrepreneur, one needs social capital which is earned by building constructive relationships overtime.
“One of the values of paid employment is that it gives you stability, allowing you to grow and learn established structures while building relationships” he said.
The event was sponsored by the Japan Motors, Globex Energy Limited, Tree Hill Global, Neon Acres Limited and CEO Oil Limited.
Others include Purelan Legacy, Hills Oil Marketing Company Limited, Event Pady and Krontiva.
It was on the theme: “Building wealth, Building Excellence, Building Legacy. “
The rationale for the event, which was also opened to women, was to equip participants with financial literacy, empower their businesses and provide them with capacity -building to support their families, the work of God and the community at large.
It was attended by a cross- section of business professionals within and outside the church and a host of other attendees from the general public including women.
Resource persons at the event were Business Entrepreneurs and Legacy Advisors including Mr. Solomon Osuoza, Mr. Olaleke Awonyiy, Mr. Kwadwo Dekyi and Mr. Rexford Mann-Mensah.
Mr. Osuoza indicated that “it is always difficult to answer the question of when was the right time to leave my job and start my own business”, for those who want to be business entrepreneurs.
However, he said, in the fullness of time, time and season would align to prompt one of the appropriate times to step out with God in control.
According to him, becoming an entrepreneur requires a lot of faith and belief because nobody starts a business and sees the end from the beginning.adding that, it was always a risk-taking venture since you are venturing into an unknown world.
“This is where proper planning is required, and one needs to take a strategic, comprehensive plan,” he said.
He indicated “you can say I would work for ten years, then from the eleventh year, I am going to start something on my own”.
Explaining further, he said it was easier if one was familiar with the business one was venturing from previous employment or experience before quitting as an employee.
He added that one of the most significant requirements for business takeoff was leverage which is obtained by doing the gap analysis, identifying the values you do not have and finding people with those values and bringing them into the business in a team towards a common goal, adding that without leverage businesses would struggle.
Mr. Osouza stressed that successful businesses required a team because today’s business world is very diverse, particularly if you want to build a business that could last.
He, however, admonished individuals that, “if you believe that you do well working for someone as an employee, give it your best and make sure it grows.”
In a panel discussion, speaker after speaker touched on the importance of building business relationship as a potential factor to helping build one’s way to the top, agreeing that, the best place to find partners to start a business was the church.
They made a strong case for the importance of leveraging the expertise of people who have paid the price since you cannot learn everything in entrepreneurship on your own.
Panelists argued that money was the last thing needed in business entrepreneurship, adding that if one had passion and vision, money would follow.
They encouraged people not to entertain fear venturing into business, urging them to deploy their talent, have faith, drive, and persistence to reach the goal and fulfill the vision.
The President of Men of Integrity, Mr. Stephen Tengan said the event would be held annually to equip society with the requisite business knowledge and financial capacity building to overcome economic challenges.
A handful of participants with business ideas were given opportunity to pitch their business with GHC100,000 per head earmarked as funding to scale their business once the businesses were deemed viable.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah