News
Politicising gender-based violence harmful —Dakoa Newman
A Former Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms Dakoa Newman, has called for an end to politicising gen der-based violence.
She said it should be “treated as a national emergency.”
According to her, politicising gender-based violence was harmful, as it distracts and deters women from achieving their political dreams.
“Gender-based violence in politics should not be politicised. If we truly want more women to participate, we must address these issues collectively. Some women are tagged with names such as witches, prostitutes just for contesting for elections.”
She said this during an engagement with non-elected women parliamentary candidates organised by Abantu for Development.
The session was on the theme “Strengthening Activism for a Gender-Responsive Elections 2024 in Ghana.”
The ex-MP for Okaikwei South stated that “Standing for election requires courage and sacrifice. As women, we often give up time with our families, our children, and our personal lives to pursue leadership. Whether you win or not, that effort must be recognised.”
Ms Newman noted that losing an election, while painful, should not mark the end of a political career. “It can be a stepping stone to new opportunities in governance and party leadership,” she added.
Recalling her own experiences during the 2024 elections, she stressed that political violence discourages many women from entering politics.
On financing, she urged partners and stakeholders to go beyond workshops and invest directly in women aspirants. “Financing is the number one barrier. Without resources, women cannot effectively compete. Organisations must support candidates with funding, research, and constituency-specific tools,” she emphasised.
Dr Mensah-Kutin, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Abantu for Development, revealed that 119 women contested in the 2024 parliamentary elections, out of which 78 did not win their seats.
She stressed that their contributions remained important for shaping future advocacy and strengthening women’s representation.
She also noted that although the Affirmative Action Law was passed in 2024, it came too close to the elections to be fully implemented, making platforms such as this engagement critical in pushing for increased participation of women in governance.
She called for full implementation of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121), noting that its 30 per cent quota must be applied strictly across all levels of governance.
The event was supported by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) which seeks to reflect on the experiences of women candidates during the elections.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
A team member of the Kwahu Business Forum and special aide to the Chief of staff, Benjamin Essuman has revealed that the team is working on developing the forum into a major platform to support business growth and policy dialogue in Ghana.
According to him, efforts are underway to transform the Kwahu Business Village into an International Conference Hub that will attract businesses and investors from across the world.
He made the remarks during an interview with ghanaiantimes.com.gh journalist, Jacob Aggrey in Accra.
He said the forum was designed to bring together regulators, policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors to share ideas and help shape policies that support business development.
According to him, the concept began in 2024 when John Dramani Mahama and his Chief of Staff conceived the idea during the Easter period in Kwahu, where many entrepreneurs gather annually.
He said the first edition created a platform for business people to engage leadership directly and present their concerns.
According to him, the success of the maiden event led to the decision to make it an annual forum.
He said the second edition in 2025 focused on improving access to finance by bringing banks and financial institutions to interact with businesses.
He said institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank participated and engaged entrepreneurs on funding opportunities.
According to him, the forum has now gone beyond dialogue and has become a platform for partnerships, negotiations and investment deals.
He said some entrepreneurs who participated in previous editions have secured support from financial institutions, with their projects progressing steadily.
According to him, the presence of the President at the forum continues to boost confidence among businesses and deepen engagement.
He said the 2026 edition was larger than the previous ones and was held at the newly developed Kwahu Business Village.
According to him, traditional authorities in Kwahu donated about 150 acres of land to support the development of a permanent business conference centre.
He said the forum is attracting both local and international companies, creating opportunities for networking and collaboration.
According to him, the initiative also promotes tourism activities such as paragliding in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority.
He said the forum will continue to be held in Kwahu and is being positioned as Ghana’s version of the World Economic Forum.
Mr.Easuman further challenges such as overcrowding in previous editions have been addressed through the introduction of a digital registration system.
He said small scale businesses must take advantage of opportunities such as partnerships, mergers and government incentives to expand.
According to him, entrepreneurs should also collaborate with institutions like the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority to access international markets.
He said the long term vision includes developing the Kwahu Business Village into a world class facility capable of hosting global conferences, with possible plans to construct an airstrip.
According to him, the forum remains an important platform for businesses seeking growth, funding and expansion beyond Ghana.
Background
The Kwahu Business Forum was introduced in 2024 as an initiative to bring together business leaders and government officials during the Easter festivities in Kwahu.
It was conceived as a platform for dialogue but has since evolved into an annual event focused on promoting investment, networking and policy engagement to strengthen Ghana’s business environment.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghanaian actress and entrepreneur, Lydia Forson, has indicated that her interaction with John Dramani Mahama at the Kwahu Business Forum has significantly increased visibility for her business, Kinky Matters.
According to her, the engagement with the President brought attention to her brand and created new opportunities that were previously difficult to access as a small scale business.
She gave the testimony after the closure of the 2026 Kwahu Business forum held in Kwahu during the Easter festivities.
She explained that she first heard about the Kwahu Business Forum through a television advert and became interested after noticing the involvement of institutions such as the Ghana Export Promotion Authority.
According to her, although she had never visited Kwahu before, she made efforts to attend the forum last year, travelling from Accra in the early hours of the day.
She noted that her experience at the event exposed her to key business players and inspired her to return the following year as a business owner.
According to her, she fulfilled that goal in 2026 by setting up a stand for her brand, Kinky Matters, at the forum.
She recounted that although the President initially did not visit her stand, he later returned and interacted with her and her products.
According to her, the moment came as a surprise and she struggled to deliver her prepared pitch.
She indicated that despite the brief interaction, the endorsement from the President was very impactful for her business.
According to her, such recognition cannot easily be bought with money, as it builds trust and credibility for the brand.
She explained that since the interaction, more people have become aware of Kinky Matters, making it easier for customers to identify and purchase her products.
According to her, the exposure has also attracted interest from institutions and created new partnerships.
She noted that her business promotes Ghanaian heritage through locally made products using natural ingredients.
According to her, Kinky Matters started as a blog in 2014 and later transitioned into manufacturing beauty and skincare products.
She disclosed that building the business has not been easy, especially as a small scale enterprise with limited resources.
According to her, there is often a misconception that public figures have easy access to funding when they enter business.
Lydia Forson explained that she has had to build the business gradually while managing other professional commitments.
According to her, her experience in the creative industry has helped her understand patience, growth and consistency.
She advised young entrepreneurs and creatives to start their businesses without overthinking, adding that experience comes with time.
According to her, entrepreneurship requires patience and should be seen as a long term journey rather than a quick way to make money.
The actress expressed her ambition to grow Kinky Matters into a global brand that represents Ghana and Africa.
According to her, platforms such as the Kwahu Business Forum are important for small businesses seeking exposure, networking and growth opportunities.
By: Jacob Aggrey
