Entrepreneurs Go To School Records Big Success

The “Entrepreneurs Go To Schools” tour is a signature program which forms part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) meant to take entrepreneurs to tertiary and senior high, vocational and technical institutions to share in an interactive manner, their lives and experiences as successful business personalities.

GEW is being sponsored by the Local Enterprise and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP).

Key and successful entrepreneurs have therefore been mobilized to spend time and share their experiences with students in the Greater Accra Region as part of the week long program marking the Global Entrepreneurship Week in Ghana.

LESDEP is the sponsor of the Global Entrepreneurship Week and all the other programs put together to inculcate entrepreneurship spirit into the youth, students and the general public. “Entrepreneurs Go To Schools” have seen entrepreneurs speak to about 4000 students in institutions such as the Pentecost University College at Sowotuom, Tema Senior High School in Tema and the Garrisson Vocational/Technical institute in Burma Camp.

Speaking at the Pentecost University College, Mr. Frank Acheampong, the Chief Executive Officer of Facol Roads, Ghana's leading Road Maintenance Company - enumerated some virtues of humility, respect for workers, discipline and respect as some of the qualities every entrepreneur needs.

Mr. Acheampong explained how he had failed in earlier attempts to oversee his father's business after which he managed to set up his own business. But for perseverance, he wouldn't have successfully set up his new business which is thriving very well presently.

Mr. Acheampong explained that he does not believe in what he termed, 'absentee businesses. “Once you are investing your resources into a business, you should be there to ensure the right things are done,” he noted. The biggest challenge he faces in his business is the working behavior of the Ghanaian worker, where the worker puts in less effort into work but expects bountiful results.

At the Tema Senior High school, Ernest Asiedu Caesar (The Assistant Communications Manager-LESDEP and an Entrepreneur) asked the students to study hard and broaden their knowledge in order to achieve excellence.

Listing a number of businesses he has been involved in, Mr. Asiedu Caesar pointed the importance of tertiary education, the need to be passionate about work passion and the need to establish contacts/networking as some of the attributes of being a good entrepreneur.

Kwame Osei - Owusu (M&E Manager – LESDEP and an Entrepreneur) encouraged the students to take advantage of internet resources to improve their marketing and financial literacy skills. According to him, a lot of businesses collapse because of financial and accounting illiteracy of the owners.

Displaying about seven certificates gained through online distance learning, he asked the students not to spend all their time chatting on social networks but use other internet resources to learn.

The “Entrepreneurs Go To Schools” tour took the Managing Director of Holman Petroleum, Mr. William Tawiah (an Entrepreneur and Chartered Management Accountant) to the Garrison Methodist Presbyterian Vocational and Technical institute.

Mr. Tawiah asked the students to imbibe the culture of savings and minimize as possible, the attitude of borrowing. He explained that, an entrepreneur must endeavor to be financially independent hence the need to save. He also pointed the need to separate family and friends from business.

He encouraged the students not to be afraid to start something new and also not to be scared of failure. “Every entrepreneur must believe in him/herself, be disciplined and take bold decisions,” he empahsized.

He encouraged the students and teachers that were gathered to share their experiences and give a push to friends who need help since it is a good thing to have lots of friends who are also successful entrepreneurs.

Each gathering was very interactive with participants asking lots of questions and receiving appropriate answers from the entrepreneurs. The general response from students was for a call such programs to be organized on regular basis since the encounter has been very encouraging.