Entrepreneurs Asked To Break Myth

Accra,(Greater Accra) 3 Nov. Mrs. Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, today said myths that prevent aspiring entrepreneurs to take off must be broken. These, she said, include the fear of taking risks, the belief that entrepreneurs are born and not made and the contention that without enough start-up capital one cannot succeed. She was speaking at the 14th Junior business seminar organized jointly by the Friedrich Nauman Foundation and the Africa Leadership Forum, an NGO. It is being attended by 35 final year university students from Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Senegal, the Gambia, Liberia and Mali. The Seminar which is the third in the series this year, is aimed at equipping young university graduates with entrepreneurship skills to set up their own businesses rather than depending on the formal sector. Mrs. Benyiwa-Doe said it is true to a limited sense that entrepreneurs are born and not made. However, they can be made and, indeed, are made through the acquisition of relevant skills, knowledge and experience over a period and through a process of self-development. She said the important thing about risk is that opportunities needed to be clearly identified and the right calibre of people as well as necessary resources marshalled to ensure success.