The Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ghana, Mr. Niloy Banerjee, has emphasized the crucial role of the private sector in transforming Ghana’s economy and creating jobs, particularly for young people and women in Northern Ghana.
Speaking at the Private Sector Investment Forum in Northern Ghana, held in Bolgatanga, Mr. Banerjee underscored that while governments facilitate growth, real job creation is driven by small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
“In most countries, SMEs account for 80 to 90 percent of all employment. Africa’s youth bulge means not everyone will work in an office, but everyone has the potential to be an entrepreneur—creating jobs not only for themselves but for others,” he noted.
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A Call for Strategic Investment and Ecosystem Building
The forum, themed “Accelerating Local Development Through Private Sector Investment and Partnership,” brought together stakeholders from government, the private sector, civil society, and development partners. Organized by the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), the event is part of a UN Peacebuilding Fund initiative being implemented by the UNDP and UNFPA.
Participants highlighted both the untapped economic potential and the structural challenges in Northern Ghana, including limited investment, high unemployment, climate vulnerability, and multidimensional poverty. According to the Ghana Statistical Service, some areas in Northern Ghana face poverty rates exceeding 60%, with women and youth disproportionately affected.
“We need infrastructure like cold storage, stable electricity, and improved market access to unlock entrepreneurship,” Mr. Banerjee added. “I pray Ghana builds the ecosystem that allows its entrepreneurs to flourish.”
Investment Readiness Tools and Local Government Transformation
Dr. Audrey Amoah Smock, Director-General of the NDPC, urged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to reposition themselves as entrepreneurial facilitators rather than mere administrators. She revealed that the NDPC, in collaboration with the UNDP, has rolled out an “investment toolkit” to help district assemblies assess their investment readiness, identify high-potential sectors, and develop pitches for private investors.
“This toolkit will serve as a blueprint for real transformation,” Dr. Smock explained.
Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed, Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, echoed the call for effective local leadership and outlined key government initiatives designed to stimulate private sector growth. These include:
- The Adumawura Programme supports 10,000 youth-led enterprises annually through training, mentorship, startup capital, tax incentives, and market access.
- The Feed Ghana Programme aimed at agricultural self-sufficiency, and
- The 24-Hour Economy Initiative is designed to boost productivity and service delivery.
He encouraged SMEs to take full advantage of these programs.
A Turning Point for Northern Ghana
Mr. Roland Ayoo, Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, described the forum as a “milestone moment” for unlocking the region’s rich human and natural resource potential through investment and strategic partnerships.
The forum ultimately served as a platform for aligning development goals, showcasing opportunities, and mobilizing investment for inclusive and sustainable growth in Northern Ghana.
