I Regret Going Into Politics - Hon. Seth Adjei Baah

‘Sir, looking back, what is your major regret in life, for which you will caution the youth to avoid?’ Akyena Brantuo asked him.

‘Going into politics. Combining business and politics is dangerous. Looking back, that was my regret. The young ones must avoid this.’ He answered. ‘Do not marry business with politics because if care is not taken, your business will be at a risk. I am just lucky to h`ave survived it.’ He concluded.

The Hon. Seth Adjei Baah, made this remarks on Tema based Ahotor 92.3fm on Wednesday 8^th June, 2016 whenhe became the latest successful public figure to feature on ‘Heroes of Our Time with Akyena Brantuo’.Heroes of Our Time with Akyena Brantuo is a live radio mentorship program on Ahotor 92.3fm every Wednesday 7pm to 8.30pm.

The one timeMember of Parliament for the Nkawkawconstituency also said what pushed him into entrepreneurship and businessis hardship. “Necessity is the mother of all inventions. Look around you, where you find difficulties and challenges that isexactly where opportunities exist”.

At age 18, when the Hon. Seth Adjei Baah’s father passed on, family traditions were supposed to be respected and strictly adhered to.In his case, his uncle was supposed to marry his mother, something he vehemently opposed. He was never in support of that idea. And he suffered for that, his family members neglected him. That was the beginning of his struggles in life. However, the saying proved true that every misfortune is a blessing in disguise. His family’s open hostility towards him became the springboardon which his table top business grew to becomeSHAABA group of companies, an empire that today boast of shopping malls, mineral water production, building and road construction company and a number of hospitality entities including the plush Ramada hotel in Nungua barrier.

When he was rejected by his family, he recounts how he worked his way to finance his secondary school education in St. Peters Secondary Schoolby hawking exercise books.

But Godis always faithful, he says. He recounts how God touched the heart of a member of the church of Pentecost to teach him how to make “Don’t touch me soap” for free, a local business venture which became the backbone of his success after having starved himself considerably to be able to save 50 cedis as his initial investment in thisnew soap business. At the age of 23, he had employed two people in his own company. Wow!

Today, Hon Seth Adjei Baahhas become a successful businessman, executive member of reputable business associations. He is the president of Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a board member of the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority, Council member of Reagent University College, Accra and the Board Chairman of SHAABA Group etc.

The Hon. Seth Adjei Baah who is 56 years and hails from Kwawu Asakraka in Nkawkaw, had very useful advice for the youth drawingon the principles that kept him at the top all these years

Firstly, he emphasized on education. Heinsisted that if uneducated entrepreneurs are able to succeed so much then educated ones can do more. Underscoring this point with his own life that the essence of education made him go for BSc(Hon), Business Administration even when he was 40years and still went ahead for his masters in Governance and Leadership at the age of 50.

Secondly, he had advice for the young people with beautiful ideas yet without money to implement them. He encouraged them to beinnovative in their thinking, and, openly discuss their ideas with others who also have the finance but without the ideas. And even where such help delay, such entrepreneurs ought to press on. ‘Keep selling your ideas to people, help will surely come. Ideas and businesses are like seeds,they take time to grow and fruit’. He added.

The rest of his advice for the potential entrepreneur are as follows,

• Learning to live within one’s means.
• The culture of saving.
• Leading by example.
• Having the attitude of hard work and honesty.
• Learning to start small.
• Not giving up on your dreams.
• Turing adversaries into opportunitiesetc.

In conclusion, he urged individuals to chase their dream but admittedthat not all persons can be entrepreneurs. Some of us work excellently as supporting cast whilst others do better leading. Just discover who you really are.

File on Friday 10^th June, 2016
Cephas Migbordzie.
E-mail [email protected]
Bright Amuzu.
E-mail [email protected]