The 2025 Volta Young Entrepreneurs Forum has sparked renewed calls for youth across the region to take advantage of the vast opportunities in agriculture, agribusiness, and innovation, as key speakers emphasised the power of patience, hard work, and strategic mentorship in building sustainable livelihoods.

Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, John Setor Dumelo, encouraged young people to remain focused and patient in their pursuit of agricultural success, highlighting that the challenges presented by farmers in the Volta Region were legitimate but solvable with time.

He noted that agriculture remained one of the most rewarding endeavours for determined youth, stressing that “agri is tough, hard work is smart work, but eventually we will all get there if we remain committed”.

Mr Dumelo reiterated that the Volta Region was richly endowed with land and resources, presenting immense opportunities for youth-driven agribusiness.

He emphasised that although not everyone may become a farmer, many young people could build thriving careers in agro-processing, distribution, mechanisation services, and other value chain enterprises.

“If you plant one seed of maize, you harvest a thousand in three to four months. Everything requires patience and passion. The youth must keep agribusiness at the back of their minds to help develop Volta,” he said.

Mama Bobi III, Queen of Ho Bankoe of the Asogli State, urged young people to shift their focus from solely pursuing white-collar jobs to exploring entrepreneurship. 

She explained that while formal education was important, entrepreneurship had become the true engine of national growth.

She expressed concern over the low turnout of youth at such beneficial forums and challenged them to “rise, take action, and build their future” instead of waiting for external saviours.

She also underscored the need for leaders to remain accessible to the people they serve. According to her, the gap between top leadership and those who truly needed support made progress difficult. She called for practical systems that allowed young entrepreneurs to reach mentors, government officials, and partners who could help them scale their ideas. 

“Working hard alone is not enough. You need contacts, mentorship, and strategic partnerships - and platforms like this offer that,” she stressed.

The Technical Advisor to the Commissioner-General of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mrs Elsie Appau-Klu, described the forum as a vital platform for nurturing emerging businesses. She explained that the GRA’s new digital tax initiatives and modified taxation scheme were designed with young entrepreneurs in mind, making compliance easier and more convenient.

She added that entrepreneurs earning below GH₵500,000 annually qualified for special arrangements and preemptive tax figures to ease their financial burden.

Mrs Appau-Klu further revealed that tax laws provided incentives for young entrepreneurs, including tax holidays of up to five years for businesses established outside Accra and Tema.

She urged the youth of the Volta Region to take advantage of these benefits, especially given the area’s untapped potential in tourism, agriculture, and services.

“We see young entrepreneurs not just as job creators but as key drivers of Ghana’s economic development,” she noted.

The forum called for consistent engagement, mentorship, innovation, and stronger access to leadership support systems to accelerate economic empowerment across the region. It also made a compelling appeal to the youth to take charge of their dreams, venture into agribusiness and entrepreneurship, and position themselves as active contributors to the region’s growth and long-term development.