The 2025 Volta Young Entrepreneurs Forum has ignited fresh momentum behind calls for young people across the region to embrace the vast possibilities in agribusiness, innovation, and entrepreneurship as pathways to sustainable development.

The forum brought together policymakers, traditional leaders, industry experts, and emerging business talents, all united by a shared commitment to unlocking the Volta Region’s economic potential.

In celebrating the region’s potential and honouring women who have championed the cause of youth and girl-child development, the event highlighted the transformative power of committed leadership. A central feature of the ceremony was the conferral of special citations on Mama Bobi III, Queen of Ho Bankoe in the Asogli State, and Mrs Elsie Appau-Klu, Technical Advisor to the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), in recognition of their unwavering dedication to empowering young girls and advancing inclusive development.

Their recognition served as a powerful reminder of the pivotal role strong and inspiring female leadership continues to play in shaping a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous Volta Region.

Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, John Setor Dumelo, charged the youth to remain disciplined, patient, and resilient in their quest to excel in agriculture, describing the sector as both demanding and immensely rewarding.

He acknowledged the genuine challenges raised by farmers in the Volta Region but was optimistic that these obstacles could be resolved with time, strategic planning, and sustained support from government and the private sector. Agriculture, he stressed, remained one of the most transformative sectors for young people willing to commit to long-term growth. 

“Agri is tough, hard work is smart work, but eventually we will all get there if we remain committed,” he said.

Mr Dumelo underscored that the Volta Region’s abundant land resources offered unmatched opportunities for agribusiness ventures, not only in cultivation but across the entire value chain including agro-processing, distribution, mechanisation services, and technology-driven solutions. He encouraged the youth to keep agribusiness at the centre of their plans, emphasising that “if you plant one seed of maize, you harvest a thousand in three to four months.

“Everything requires patience and passion”.

Mama Bobi III Afetornyornufia of Ho Bankoe of the Asogli State urged the youth to rethink their heavy reliance on white-collar jobs and instead embrace entrepreneurship as a viable and impactful career pathway.

She emphasised that while formal education remained essential, the transformative force of entrepreneurship had become the true engine of national progress. 

Mama Bobi III expressed concern over the low turnout of young people at platforms designed specifically for their growth, urging them to step forward, take action, and become active architects of their own futures.

She also called for strengthened accessibility between traditional leaders, government officials, and aspiring entrepreneurs, insisting that the current gap between policymakers and the people they serve often delays meaningful development.

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

For her advocacy on youth empowerment, mentorship, and the advancement of the girl child, the organisers honoured her with a citation celebrating her role as a beacon of inspiration to young women in the region.

Mrs Elsie Appau-Klu, Technical Advisor to the Commissioner-General of the GRA, stated that Ghana’s evolving tax system supported young entrepreneurs. She noted that the GRA’s new digital initiatives, including simplified online services and modified taxation schemes, were deliberately designed to make compliance more accessible for start-ups and small businesses. 

Entrepreneurs earning below GH₵500,000 annually, she explained, now benefitted from special arrangements and pre-emptive tax figures that ease financial pressure during the early stages of business growth.

Mrs Appau-Klu further highlighted a range of incentives available to young entrepreneurs, particularly tax holidays of up to five years for businesses established outside Accra and Tema, an opportunity she described as especially valuable for the Volta Region, given its immense potential in tourism, agriculture, and services.

Her consistent work in advocating for equitable economic participation and her dedication to girl-child empowerment earned her a distinguished citation presented by the forum. The award acknowledged her commitment to guiding young women towards financial independence and leadership.

Speakers at the forum underscored that the path to sustainable regional growth lied in the active participation of young people whether through agribusiness, creative ventures, and strategic partnerships that strengthened local industries.

Ultimately, the 2025 Volta Young Entrepreneurs Forum delivered a clear message: the future of the region rests in the hands of bold, innovative, and empowered youth ready to seize the opportunities before them.