“It started in a land cruiser” — Mahama says Kwahu Business Forum was born during long campaign drives

At the Kwahu Business Forum 2026 on Saturday, April 4, President John Dramani Mahama shared the origins and evolution of the event, now recognized as one of Ghana’s premier platforms for business networking and economic growth.

In a reflective address, President Mahama traced the forum’s conception back to 2023 during his campaign for the 2024 presidential election. A conversation with his younger brother, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, sparked the idea that would grow into the annual Kwahu Business Forum.

According to President Mahama, the idea was born in the back of a Toyota Land Cruiser, where the two often sat during long campaign journeys across Ghana. “How this whole event began… It was conceived in the back of a Toyota Land Cruiser, which myself and my younger brother Julius always occupied when I went on campaigns,” he recounted.

It was during these extensive travels, spanning from northern to southern Ghana, that discussions about the country’s tourism potential and the entrepreneurial spirit of the Kwahu people took shape. The focus soon shifted to the Kwahu Easter celebrations, an annual homecoming that attracts thousands from across the nation.

“We were talking about tourism and how we can improve things,” President Mahama explained. “Then the issue of Kwahu Easter came up, and we talked about how we could add a business angle to it.”

The Kwahu Easter festival is Ghana’s largest homecoming event, drawing the Kwahu diaspora from cities such as Accra, Tamale, and Sunyani. Beyond family reunions, Easter provides the occasion to honor ancestors and attend traditional funerals. Recognizing the region’s entrepreneurial culture, Mahama and Debrah envisioned a forum that combined cultural celebration with opportunities for business networking, partnerships, and knowledge sharing.

Despite being in opposition at the time, the duo boldly organized the first Kwahu Business Forum in 2024. “We were still in opposition. We had the audacity to hold a Kwahu Business Forum,” Mahama said proudly. The inaugural event brought together businesspeople, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders from across Ghana, marking a historic initiative linking a cultural festival with economic discourse.

The forum’s objectives extend beyond celebration. It is designed to facilitate discussions on improving business practices, expanding markets, and addressing entrepreneurial challenges. “It should not just be entertainment and enjoyment,” President Mahama emphasized. “It is about creating a space where businesspeople can network, interact, and see how they can manage their businesses better.”

Kwahu Easter’s tourism appeal had already been boosted since 2006 under the administration of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, with attractions like paragliding introduced by the late Ferdinand Naim drawing both domestic and international visitors. Mahama’s vision, however, sought to integrate cultural festivities with meaningful economic engagement.