How Government Killed Dreams Of Young Brilliant Entrepreneur After Telling Graduates To Be Own Bosses

An entrepreneur is accusing the Agriculture Ministry of impeding his bid to establish a factory to manufacture fertiliser in the country.

Bernard Oduro insists that his dreams of making Ghana a powerhouse in the sector would have been successful but for some decisions taken under the Minister’s watch.

Mr Oduro, is a 2016 winner of the Business Plan Competition USADF YALI Entrepreneurship Programme under the US African Development Foundation (USADF).

Earlier this month, the Finance Minister encouraged the youth to venture into entrepreneurship as the government payroll is full.

Ken Ofori-Atta who was speaking at a lecture at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), said government had many programmes to support graduates who choose that path to ensure that they succeed.

“You have the skills set to be able to do what you have to do. Our responsibility as a government is to create the environment and the macro stability, currency stability and ensure that you have access to the relevant skills and financing,” the Minister said.

This speech, which has been received with mixed reactions from a section of the public, was also the trigger for Bernard’s lamentation.

I felt that no, it is high time I tell this story for people to hear,” he said.,

Narrating his ordeal, Bernard said he had secured a grant of $25,000 as an award to address agricultural challenges in his area, following which he encountered the Group CEO of Mauritius Chemical and Fertilizer Industry (MCFI), who was willing to have Bernard aboard their move to establish their presence in Ghana.

“Because I used the grant well, I applied for further grants through the USADF, and I was also given $100,000 totalling $150,000,” he said.

Source : Report Ghana