The Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has raised concerns over the increasing levels of political interference in Ghana’s business environment, warning that the trend is eroding investor confidence and hindering the country’s economic prospects.
Addressing the 2025 Kwahu Business Forum in Mpraeso on April 19, the Effutu MP described the growing tendency for partisan considerations to dictate access to business opportunities as a serious threat to meritocracy and innovation.
“The biggest problem we have as a country is our political interference in everything. And it’s killing initiative,” he told a gathering of entrepreneurs, policymakers, development partners, and private sector leaders.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin lamented that from cocoa purchasing to road contracts and even small business loans, the politicisation of economic access is driving away hardworking Ghanaians who simply want to succeed without relying on political connections.
“When everything is politicised, you push away people who just want to work hard and succeed,” he added, noting that such interference discourages honest effort and stifles entrepreneurship especially among the youth.
The Kwahu Business Forum, which started as a campaign initiative, has grown into an annual platform that unites stakeholders from across the political divide to discuss Ghana’s economic development in practical terms.
In a passionate appeal, the Minority Leader urged political leaders and public institutions to uphold fairness and integrity in the administration of economic affairs. He argued that a thriving private sector can only be built when success is based on competence, not connections.
“We need to get to a point where your political background doesn’t determine your success in business. That’s the only way we can truly grow as a nation,” he stressed.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin also advised Ghanaian youth against chasing political favouritism as a shortcut to success. According to him, this mindset only breeds inequality and resentment, undermining the core values of diligence and innovation.
“If we want to see sustainable economic development, we must encourage hard work, innovation, and integrity not connections,” he said.
As Ghana continues to seek solutions for economic transformation, Mr. Afenyo-Markin’s message calls for urgent reform and a collective commitment to depoliticising the business space to foster inclusive and lasting growth
