Successful Ghanaian business leaders should take on the responsibility of mentoring at least 300 young people each to shape a self-reliant and prosperous future for the country, businessman Seidu Agongo has proposed.

Speaking in an interview with Metro TV, Mr Agongo suggested that leading entrepreneurs like himself, Ibrahim Mahama, and Zoomlion’s Joseph Siaw Agyepong could make a lasting impact on society by guiding the next generation and helping them avoid costly mistakes.

“Let’s assume I, as a businessman, my brother Ibrahim Mahama as a businessman, and Zoomlion as a businessman, decide to adopt 300 kids each and mentor them so they don’t make the mistakes we have made—because some mistakes are grievous. Can you imagine the knock-on effect on their families and society in general and the transformation we can make without depending on the World Bank, USAID, etc.? This can turn Ghana around because we become better when we depend on ourselves,” he said.

Mr Agongo’s call comes amid concerns about youth unemployment and the need for local mentorship programmes that reduce reliance on foreign aid and intervention.

He urged business leaders, religious figures, and other influential people to invest their time and resources in grooming young talent.

“Good friends like Ibrahim Mahama, Zoomlion’s Agyepong, most of the businesspeople, pastors, and people in leadership should try as much as possible to adopt at least 200 or 300 young guys and mentor them. Let’s see how best we can build them up to achieve whatever they desire because, at the end of the day, the wealth that we are looking for will not go with us into our grave,” he said.

According to Mr Agongo, a well-mentored generation would be able to sustain and expand the legacies of today’s business leaders, rather than mismanaging inherited wealth.

“When we don’t even give the right training to our kids in life, trust me, they are going to sell it like kelewele,” he cautioned, referring to the popular Ghanaian street food.