Businessman and politician Akwasi Addae Odike has cited hypocrisy, nepotism and discrimination for Ghana’s failure to position itself as a global trade hub.
He said the country had the potential to become a major centre for global trade if the right decisions had been made and the necessary support given to capable individuals.
“If we were doing the right things appropriately and had the support of wise individuals, Ghana would have become a global trade hub. But I repeat, hypocrisy, nepotism and discrimination have plunged us into this state,” he said on Angel TV on Monday, November 9, 2026.
According to the presidential hopeful of the Union Government, Ghana is blessed with well-established and knowledgeable businesspeople whose expertise could help transform the country’s trade sector.
However, Odike noted that the practice of excluding people from decision-making under the popular mantra, “He’s not one of us,” has become a major setback to the country’s development.
He believes decision-makers must involve such businesspeople in national economic planning to tap into their ideas and expertise to improve Ghana’s trade visibility across the African continent and the world at large.
Odike further reiterated his long-standing advocacy for a national policy plan that would compel successive governments to follow a consistent framework in administering the affairs of the country.
The businessman and politician was speaking about his expectations of the government’s 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, scheduled to be presented by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
