AfED Launches ‘Startup Manifesto’ To Assess The Entrepreneurial Perspective Of NPP, NDC’s Manifesto AfED2020

The entrepreneurial policy think tank , AfED- Africa Entrepreneurial Dialogue presents its dialogue theme ” Startup Manifesto” as the main focus for its upcoming event AfED 2020 to be held virtually on the 18th of September, 2020.

The startup definition, for the purpose of AfED 2020 focuses on the first phase and early growth phase of all SMEs in Ghana. AfED aim is to reflect the views and perspectives of as many entrepreneurs, investors, advisors and other key figures within the ecosystem across Ghana. This will ensure the proposals are as robust and actionable as possible.

The Startup Manifesto dialogue will critique aspect of Manifestos of our major political parties underpinning their visionary policies for the entrepreneurial ecosystem. According to the Executive Director of AfED, Justice Offei Jr, “AFED 2020 seeks to harmonize the thoughts and suggestions by our Speakers to produce a White Paper that support the reinvigoration of job creation agenda via entrepreneurship.

This Paper will be presented to the Flag bearers of the political parties, policymakers, and media publication and advocacy. AfED aim is to reflect the views and perspectives of as many entrepreneurs, investors, advisors and other key figures within the ecosystem across Ghana.

This will ensure the White Paper is as robust and actionable as possible.” He added that “AfED strongly believe that COVID-19 presents the best opportunity for our political parties to show their political will to enact the Ghana Startup Act. It is one of the best assurance to consolidate all the incentives for the entrepreneurial ecosystem”

AfED 2020 will assess the feasibility and the relevance of the portions of these Manifestos that address the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Ghana. AfED want entrepreneurs to be informed and take part in the decision making of this country. AfED 2018 was the forum that produced the creation of the Ghana Startup Act Advocacy.

AfED will use The Entrepreneurship Context (TEC) as a tool for critiquing the relevance and feasibility of the Manifestos of the major parties. TEC covers the environment profile in which entrepreneurs operate; the strengths entrepreneurs can leverage on and the constraints they must overcome in order to start their businesses and grow them.

It is important to understand the sort of environment these political Manifestos produce to influence the quality of entrepreneurship. TEC is the rudiment of our measure of the relevance and feasibility of the portion of the Manifestos that have a direct influence on the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

TEC encapsulates 8 areas that are believed to be related to the critical factors for entrepreneurship to thrive. These 8 framework conditions have been the subject of much academic research examining the relationship between entrepreneurship and its environment. And that said, these will be the fundamental lens for critiquing the Manifestos of the political parties;

1. Entrepreneurial Finance

2. Government Policies & Legal Infrastructure

3. Government Entrepreneurship Programs

4. Entrepreneurship Education:

5. R&D transfer:

6. Commercial and Professional Infrastructure:

7.Physical Infrastructure:

8. Internal market burdens or entry regulation