Key Points
- Afenyo-Markin warns political interference is damaging Ghana’s business environment.
- He calls for merit-based access to state contracts and business opportunities.
- The politician urges the youth to reject political favoritism as a shortcut to success.
Ghana’s Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has sharply criticized political interference in the country’s business sector.
Speaking at the 2025 Kwahu Business Forum in Mpraeso on April 19, Afenyo-Markin warned that political involvement in business affairs weakens investor confidence and poses a significant challenge to the country’s economic prospects.
He argued that as political considerations increasingly influence access to state contracts and business opportunities, merit-based competition is becoming distorted.
“The biggest problem we have as a country is our political interference in everything. And it’s killing initiative,” Afenyo-Markin said, addressing a gathering of entrepreneurs, government officials, private sector representatives, and development partners.
Political interference limits opportunities and stifles growth
Afenyo-Markin also pointed out that such political interference discourages hard work and stifles innovation, particularly among young Ghanaians.
“When everything is politicized—from cocoa purchasing to road contracts to even small loans—it pushes away people who just want to work hard and succeed,” he explained.
He called on both political leaders and state institutions to take responsibility for upholding fairness in economic matters. He emphasized that a thriving private sector cannot flourish if success is determined by political ties rather than individual competence and merit.
Afenyo-Markin urges youth to seek merit over political connections
In addition to critiquing political interference, Afenyo-Markin urged the youth to avoid relying on political favoritism as a shortcut to success. He warned that such practices only lead to inequality and resentment.
“We need to get to a point where your political background doesn’t determine your success in business,” he said. This, he stressed, is essential for true national growth and development.
The Kwahu Business Forum, which began as a campaign initiative, has now become an annual event bringing together stakeholders across party lines to discuss practical economic solutions.
