Sherif Ghali, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs Ghana, has urged the government to adopt a more intentional approach towards supporting youth entrepreneurship in the country.
In an interview with Kwadwo Sefa Danquah on the Happy Morning Show, he emphasized the need for action saying, “When I say deliberate I mean enough of the talks, we need to invest in the youth. It is not about numbers and that is one of the biggest problems we’re facing in the country”.
He explained that many leaders are more focused on claiming credit for achievements, even when progress hasn’t been made.
“If you have 1 million Ghana cedis, don’t divide it among 1 million youth. They won’t be able to make any real impact. Instead, select the best 10, give them significant funding, and help them scale up to become major companies. These successful businesses will be effective by employing more people and contribute to economic growth,” he said.
He also expressed concern that both the government and development partners are more focused on reaching large numbers rather than ensuring real, measurable impact.
“Some people may complain when they realize they aren’t selected but still go on to select the best out of them. It shouldn’t be politically colored it should be ideas that you know can scale and change the economy”.
He advised the government to focus on the best people, invest in and watch them become successful and create jobs for others.
“As these businesses grow, they will create jobs and contribute to overall economic development” he added.
He also suggested that this approach could be done in phases, targeting entrepreneurs based on their strengths to ensure sustained growth in their respective sectors.