Ghana Is Not a Cold Store or Hotel Business – Kofi Tonto Jabs Kennedy Agyapong and Bryan Acheampong

Political Aide and Deputy Spokesperson for former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Kofi Tonto, has taken a dig at fellow New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirants Kennedy Agyapong and Bryan Acheampong, asserting that Ghana needs a visionary and innovative leader — not one who runs the country like a cold store or hotel business.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Akua-Piesie Asare Bediako, over the  weekend, Mr. Tonto emphasized that leadership in the 21st century goes beyond merely owning businesses. He said true leadership lies in one’s ability to create modern, technology-driven enterprises that enhance efficiency and transform lives.

“Being a leader is not about your ability to open a company. It is about your ability to open a modern and technologically based company that will optimise efficiency,” Mr. Tonto said.

“Ghana is not a cold store or hotel operation; that’s not what the nation is looking for. The nation is looking for somebody whose ideas and solutions will transform the country in the greatest manner possible — so that a factory that produces 100 shoes can produce 1,000 shoes in just five minutes instead of 100 in a month.”

He argued that Ghana’s future depends on visionary leadership that understands the changing dynamics of the global economy.

“Now we have what we call Gen Zs, Millennials, and Gen Alphas. These generations are not just looking for jobs; they are looking for modern jobs,” he stated.

“So it’s not just about creating jobs; it’s about creating modern, technology-based jobs that meet the aspirations of today’s youth.”

While acknowledging that there is nothing wrong with owning a cold store or hotel, Mr. Tonto maintained that Ghana’s leadership must be defined by innovation and forward-thinking policies.

“There’s nothing wrong with owning a cold store or a hotel, but Ghana is not about running a convenient shop. Ghana is a multi-faceted enterprise that must be run on pragmatic ideas and innovation,” he stressed.

Citing several examples, Mr. Tonto praised Dr. Bawumia’s initiatives, describing them as “practical ideas that have transformed the country.”

“What practical idea is more than a farmer in a rural community who used to struggle to visit the hospital for check-ups, but today drones deliver medication nationwide within minutes? What practical idea is more than giving every Ghanaian a national identification card within a few years? And what practical idea is more than providing over 300 ambulances when it was once a major challenge?” he asked.

He continued,

“All of these practical ideas have created jobs. Every single one of them has had an impact on people’s lives. There are 33 practical ideas implemented by Dr. Bawumia that are changing the face of this nation.”

Mr. Tonto concluded by emphasizing that Ghana must be treated as a dynamic, evolving enterprise built on innovation and modern thinking.

“That’s why I premised my argument on the fact that Ghana is not a cold store, neither is it a hotel or a convenient shop. Ghana is a multi-faceted enterprise that must be built on pragmatic and ever-evolving, innovative ideas,” he concluded.