Gov't ready to support young entrepreneurs – Julius Debrah

Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has urged the youth to dream big and pursue visions that are realistic.

He said the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) was poised at empowering the youth with alternative livelihood opportunities through programmes that will support them to set up their own businesses and be their own bosses.

According to the Chief of Staff, there is a conscious plan and programme by President John Mahama, called the National Business Booster Agenda, where funds will be made available to existing and potential Ghanaian entrepreneurs through the EXIM bank to start or boost their own businesses.

He charged the youth to be bold and grab opportunities when they come their way. "You have to be strong and seize the opportunity at all times to take advantage of them when available,” he stated.

Addressing participants at the Job Summit in Accra, as part of his Greater Accra regional tour to canvass votes for his boss President Mahama, the Chief of Staff, Mr. Julius Debrah, underscored the need for the youth to identify the opportunities that abound. To him, this is critical to moving forward in their lives.

The Chief of Staff held similar Job Summits in the Volta, Eastern, Ashanti and other regions to inform and educate the youth of the opportunities that would exist under the leadership of Mr Mahama from 2017 to 2021.

He gave an example of a couple who tried hard to have a child. When the child came, it was more or less like rubber. However unfortunate that was, the parents used the baby to make huge fortunes which transformed their life for the better.

He said they first took the baby to a church where people had to pay five dollars to have a look. Later it went to other states in America where people had to pay huge sums to take pictures with the first rubber child in the world. "I am saying this to illustrate the fact that irrespective of your situation, you could still make the best out of it," he noted,

Mr Debrah cited examples of persons who defied small beginnings and today have big companies in Ghana and elsewhere. He mentioned the CEO of Jospong Group of Companies, Dr Siaw Agyapong, CEO of Peace FM Kwame Despite, who used to sell audio cassettes, and Kwame Ofosu Kwarteng of Sikkens fame, saying if they were able to make it then the youth of today could make it through hard work and determination.

He indicated that all the above-mentioned names believed in themselves and God. It did not take anything else to change, but they worked hard to get to where they are. "Thus, I am telling you to have the self-belief and take a step and the rest will follow," he urged.

He said: "President Mahama's administration is ready to support anybody at all, whether you have certificate or not, educated or not, enlightened or not to give you the assistance you need and ensure you become a successful entrepreneur."

He noted that the EXIM BANK was ready to help individuals who want assistance to set up their own enterprises or own their own companies.

"Businesses are like mustard seeds; you need to nurse it and water it to grow. Don't go home and do nothing, take a bold step and government will help you settle down to manage your own company," he noted.