News
Go beyond degrees to lead Ghana …Afenyo-Markin charges youth
MR Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, Minority Leader in Parliament, has urged Ghana’s youth to look beyond their academic laurels and take responsibility to lead the country.
He said, “Beyond the degree lies leadership. Beyond the degree lies innovation. Beyond the degree lies responsibility.”
Mr Afenyo-Markin made the remarks last Saturday when he delivered the keynote address at the “Beyond the Degree Conference 2026” in Winneba.
He lamented the high rate of youth unemployment in Ghana, citing a report by the Ghana Statistical Service which indicated that youth unemployment remained disproportionately high compared to other age groups.
“The government, through the Minister of Health, told us last year that it cannot employ all 74,000 trained nurses by the end of 2026. Similarly, thousands of teacher trainees remain at home, waiting for opportunities that have not materialised,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin, who is also the New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Effutu Constituency, emphasised that education must be understood as more than classroom learning or the certificate received at the end of studies, but as a foundation for responsible citizenship and leadership.
“The true purpose of education is far greater. Education shapes the mind to think critically, the heart to act ethically, and the hands to work diligently,” he said.
He urged the youth to develop competence, integrity, and resilience, and to take initiative in shaping the country’s future.
“Ghana needs a generation of young leaders who are committed to shaping institutions, influencing policy and holding systems accountable,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship, technical skills, and digital innovation in creating opportunities for the youth.
“The future of Ghana cannot be built by job seekers alone. It must also be built by job creators,” he emphasised.
—GNA
Following the last edition held in 2022, the event returned as one of the leading professional platforms in Ghana dedicated to Spanish food and beverage products.
Organised with the support of ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade — Taste Spain Accra has been promoting Spanish gastronomy and strengthening commercial relations between Spain and Ghana for more than a decade.
This year’s edition brought together 8 Spanish companies travelling to Ghana to showcase a carefully selected range of Spanish food and beverage products and explore new business opportunities in the market.
In addition, 3 Ghanaian importers and distributors already working with Spanish brands participated in the event, presenting products currently available in Ghana.
While Spanish wines once again played an important role in the exhibition with Spain currently ranking as the third largest exporter of wine to Ghana this year’s edition also expanded to include a broader selection of Spanish food products and beverages, including sparkling wines, juices and gourmet specialities representative of Spain’s rich gastronomic tradition.
The event served as a meeting point for importers, distributors, retailers, hotels, restaurants, catering companies and other specialised professionals interested in discovering new Spanish products and strengthening commercial partnerships with Spanish producers.
Alongside the commercial exhibition, Taste Spain Accra 2026 featured tastings and networking activities designed to enhance the experience of attendees while reinforcing connections between Spanish producers and the Ghanaian market.
The event took place simultaneously with parallel editions organised the same week in Nairobi and Abidjan, reflecting the increasing interest of Spanish companies in exploring opportunities across emerging African markets.
Mr. Yann Emonet Ripoll, Head of the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in Accra, highlighted not only the international importance of the Spanish wine sector, but also the growing recognition of Spanish gastronomy worldwide and the increasing interest in Spanish products within the Ghanaian market.
He also underlined the strong commercial relationship between Spain and Ghana, which has experienced significant growth in recent years.
Ghana currently maintains a trade balance with Spain, with exports exceeding €273 million, while Spanish exports reached €267 million in 2025, representing a 26% increase compared to the previous year.
The agri-food sector has been one of the fastest-growing areas of Spanish exports to Ghana, with exports increasing from €23.5 million in 2024 to €50.2 million in 2025.
The sector accounted for nearly 20% of total Spanish exports to Ghana last year, reflecting the growing demand for Spanish products among Ghanaian importers and consumers.
“We are very pleased to have brought Taste Spain Accra back to Ghana after the last edition in 2022. Over the years, the event has become an important platform for connecting Spanish producers with Ghanaian professionals and strengthening commercial ties between both markets.
While wine remains one of Spain’s flagship products internationally, we were especially excited to expand this year’s edition to include Spanish food products and beverages, offering a broader showcase of Spain’s gastronomic excellence,” he stated.
The Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of Spain in Accra remains committed to promoting quality business matchmaking and commercial opportunities between Spain and Ghana through initiatives such as Taste Spain Accra, which continues to position itself as the leading platform in Ghana dedicated to Spanish food and beverage products.
National Chairman hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Awentami Paul Afoko, has explained that his decision to return to seek leadership of the party is driven by a singular objective: helping it recapture political power and seeing Bawumia as President.
Speaking to party faithful in the Volta, Oti and Central Regions yesterday, the Former National Chairman said he did not abandon his retirement to pursue personal ambition, but because he believes the NPP has a unique opportunity to rebuild and return to government.
“I didn’t leave my retirement to come in for any reason other than power. Power is all we want, so that we can use power to develop our country according to the way we see it,” he stated.
According to Mr. Afoko, the NPP’s founding ideals and political philosophy remain the best path for Ghana’s development, stressing that the party must first heal its internal divisions before it can convince Ghanaians to return it to office.
He warned that the party’s declining parliamentary fortunes should serve as a wake-up call for members, especially the old guard, who have sacrificed for the party over the years.
“If we sit back, especially you, the elders, if you sit back and fold your hands and watch it, the party that you have toiled for from your youth is on a trajectory downwards,” he said.
Citing the NPP’s reduced representation in Parliament, Mr. Afoko noted that the party has dropped from 169 seats to 87, describing the situation as a clear indication that urgent action is needed.
“We are now at 87 from 169. We all must stand up and say this party must turn the corner and go up,” he urged.
The chairman hopeful believes unity remains the key ingredient for the NPP’s revival and eventual return to power.
He called on members across all levels of the party to put aside their differences and work together to rebuild a stronger and more formidable political organization.
Awentami Paul Afoko’s 3Rs Campaign is built on a simple formula: Reunite, Rebuild, Recapture power. He argues that the NPP cannot win 2028 with a divided house, so the first step is to reunite all factions and bring back disgruntled members as one family.
Once the party is united, he indicates that the focus shifts to rebuilding strong grassroots structures from the polling station to the national level, giving power back to the base.
With unity and solid structures in place, the final R becomes possible, which is to recapture power from the opposition and return NPP to government.
By: Jacob Aggrey
