Aspire CEO Vents At Prayer Breakfast

Speaking to members of the Andrews Heritage Club at a prayer breakfast meeting on “Africa and development,” the CEO of Aspire Business Network, Mr. Kwame Antwi-Frempong passionately vented his frustration on the inaptitude of most African countries to train the needed human capital that would help bridge the widening gap between developing countries and the developed ones.

Using Ghana as the center point of his speech, he emphatically posits that our developmental agendas have been anything but favorable particularly, when it comes to investment. He said that, Ghana brings in investors who come with already made goods and services thus turning us into mere consumers. “No single country can do well alone without foreign investors, yet, it is critical that we take a hard look at the level and degree of participation we allow such partners. We can’t be complacent.”

The way forward, he believes, is to put in place sound and workable policies, starting with a long term development plan and an educational policy which will be framed around those developmental expectations. He said “the mere fact that many African countries, including Ghana has no development plan or agenda, should tell you how we are going about this the wrong way” he went on to say “it is kind of like me running my business without any blueprint for success…it just doesn’t work that way.

The CEO also advised African/Ghanaian governments to go after Africans/Ghanaians abroad who desire to invest but don’t do so because of high taxes and bureaucratic red tapes. “Certain taxes and conditions can be waived. For local entrepreneurs, especially young ones, access to capital, be it cash, land, or machines is vital. Partnerships could also be forged and taxes reduced as incentives.”

Kwame said, he wants to see government standing up to world organizations like IMF and World Bank whose policies tend to negatively impact our economy. "Look at what is going on in Greece! Greece made some mistakes, but the IMF's policies didn't help either". He stressed on how African countries continue to make little mistakes that cost them so much. "If only our leaders will begin to think, our continent will be in much better shape".

“I know what I’ve suggested probably sound simple but we all know that our leaders don’t like to think and so this might seem like a difficult proposition. It’s so easy to resort to slogans and sound bites. That, we’ve had enough. What is needed is action, and the time is now or never. To get the development we want, we have to probe more deeply. And the solution to this, I believe, is when we all get involve.”

He ended with “yes, we have had our share of bad governance and policies over the years, but Africa, and for that matter Ghana has long been and it will continue to be a powerful emblem of hope, hard work, and prosperity, he said.” Asked if he would ever go back to help, he responded by saying "I allow God to direct my path. If he wants me there, I will have no objections".

Kwame Antwi-Frempong is a well-known business consultant in SouthWestern Michigan. He is also the owner of Nexus Ghana Limited.