Former President John Agyekum Kufuor says Ghana has not done enough to help the private sector grow.
He spoke in an exclusive interview on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
He said governments talk about the private sector as the “engine of growth,” but there are no real policies to support it.
“We say private sector is the engine of growth, but where are the policies to make it grow?” he asked.
Kufuor wants public-private partnerships. Government should make rules that help businesses invest and add value to raw materials.
“Government should not run factories. It should create policies so private companies can process our resources,” he said.
He used cocoa as an example. Ghana is the second-biggest cocoa producer, but earns little because it exports raw beans.
“The cocoa industry makes over $100 billion globally each year. Ghana produces about 500,000 tonnes. How much do we earn? We need private companies to turn beans into chocolate,” he urged.
Kufuor believes strong private sector support will bring more jobs and money to Ghana.
