The Upper West Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing has challenged young entrepreneurs across Northern Ghana to move beyond establishing businesses merely for survival.
Instead, he urged them to build enterprises capable of competing on national, regional and global markets.
Speaking on day two of the “Igniting Dreams 2026” Summit in Wa on Saturday, July 11, 2026, the Minister said the future of Northern Ghana would not be determined by the challenges confronting the region, but by the solutions created by its people.
He said the government remains committed to creating an enabling environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable job creation through investments in youth empowerment, industrial transformation, digital innovation, technical and vocational education, value addition in agriculture, and support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
Puozuing noted that lasting economic transformation cannot be achieved through government intervention alone, stressing that a vibrant private sector, driven by innovative and resilient young entrepreneurs, is essential for accelerating development.
He urged participants to focus on solving real societal problems, adopt sound corporate governance practices, maintain proper financial records, embrace technology and develop scalable business models that can attract investment.
The Regional Minister also encouraged young people to embrace digital skills, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and financial technology to enhance the competitiveness of their businesses in the global marketplace.
He further emphasised the importance of collaboration among government, academia, financial institutions, development partners and the private sector, saying strong partnerships are key to creating an ecosystem that supports innovation, investment and enterprise growth.
Reaffirming the commitment of the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council, Puozuing pledged continued collaboration with stakeholders to promote entrepreneurship, attract investment and improve the ease of doing business in the region.
The Director of Operations of the Coalition for Positive Impact, Isham Nuhu, said the Igniting Dreams 2026 programme is designed to identify and nurture young entrepreneurs across the five regions of Northern Ghana by providing business development support, mentorship and funding.
He disclosed that 18 entrepreneurs have been selected as fellows under this year’s programme and will receive financial support to help expand their businesses.
Nuhu said more than 260 young people from across Northern Ghana participated in the two-day summit, which featured keynote addresses, panel discussions and practical breakout sessions aimed at equipping participants with entrepreneurial and problem-solving skills.
He explained that the initiative seeks to address youth unemployment by supporting talented young people with viable business ideas to establish sustainable enterprises capable of creating jobs for others.
According to him, the programme is also intended to reduce the dependence of young people on government employment and discourage them from engaging in risky activities such as illegal mining and head pottering by demonstrating the business opportunities available within Northern Ghana.
He expressed appreciation to the Mastercard Foundation and other partners, including NoniHub and Fido, for supporting the initiative through funding, mentorship and business development services.
Meanwhile, Thamar Victoria Afedu-Annan and Bruce Kambotuu, beneficiaries of the program, both expressed gratitude to the organisers for the exposure and business guidance they received.
They also encourage their fellow youth to step out of their comfort zones and take the initiative to start their own ventures.
The “Igniting Dreams” 2026 Summit, organised by the Coalition for Positive Impact, brought together entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and development partners to explore strategies for promoting innovation, enterprise development and youth-led economic transformation across Northern Ghana.
By Ibrahim Wangara
