UEW Young Commons Forum: Access to capital key for young entrepreneurs – Afenyo-Markin
Minority Leader in Parliament, Osahen Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has stressed that sustainable youth empowerment depends not only on education but also on access to capital and supportive national policies that enable young entrepreneurs to thrive.
He made the comments while addressing students at the Young Commons Forum (YCF) Summit at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) Central Campus on Friday, September 19, 2025.
Osahen Afenyo-Markin, who is the the Effutu legislator, said education remains the surest foundation for leadership and national development, but it must go beyond the classroom to equip students with confidence, competence and practical skills.
“We must embrace an education that sharpens the mind, strengthens values, and equips you to solve problems,” he told the UEW students. “Project-based learning, exposure to diverse perspectives, and civic participation must be central to our curriculum. But education alone is not enough. There must also be an environment that empowers you to apply what you learn.”
Afenyo-Markin further praised recent interventions under the Akufo-Addo government which, he said, demonstrated that deliberate leadership can remove barriers for the youth. Among these, he highlighted the Ghana CARES Obaatan Pa programme during the COVID-19 crisis, which channelled resources into agribusiness, digital innovation, health and small-scale manufacturing to help young entrepreneurs recover and grow.
“Access to capital is the lifeblood of entrepreneurship. During COVID-19, many young businesses survived because the government invested directly in them. That is the kind of empowerment we must continue to provide,” he stressed.
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He also cited the no-guarantor student loan policy as a transformative step, describing it as a bold solution to years of exclusion. “For decades, students were denied loans because of guarantor requirements. By abolishing that, government gave every Ghanaian youth equal access to tertiary education support. Financial background can no longer determine your destiny,” he noted.
The Minority Leader further pointed to the revival of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), which has seen enrolments soar to over 157,000 students after institutions were retooled and aligned with international standards. “For the first time in years, TVET became attractive, giving thousands of young people practical skills in construction, ICT, fashion and hospitality,” he said.
He added that creative arts and sports had also been given renewed attention through initiatives such as the Presidential Film Pitch Series and the construction of multipurpose youth resource centres. “The global creative arts economy is booming, and Ghanaian youth must be positioned to take advantage,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin called on the youth to see these opportunities as tools to transform their communities. “We cannot afford to waste support and resources. When you access capital, use it responsibly, because the future of Ghana depends on your creativity, your discipline, and your vision,” he said.
