Dumelo Urges Youth to Pursue Farming & Business at VYE Forum
Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture John Dumelo urged Volta’s young people to seize agriculture and entrepreneurship opportunities at the Volta Youth Entrepreneurs Forum in Ho on Friday.
Speaking at the forum, which runs as part of the Volta Trade and Investment Fair, Dumelo warned that not everyone will secure a white‑collar job and that youths must create their own livelihoods and jobs through farming and business ventures.
He added that a stronger entrepreneurial drive among the region’s youth could lessen Ghana’s reliance on imported products and boost the nation’s food security.
“By next year, I want to return and see many younger people actively engaged in entrepreneurship and farming,” Dumelo said.
Mrs Elsie Appau‑Klu, Technical Advisor to the Commissioner‑General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), described the forum as an innovative platform for training, mentorship and business guidance.
Drawing on her own experience as a former young entrepreneur, she noted that the GRA views young business owners as key drivers of national economic growth.
“Without the growth of Ghana’s economic sectors, we at the GRA cannot mobilise the revenue needed for national development,” she explained.
Appau‑Klu outlined the GRA’s new tax interventions, including a digital‑friendly scheme that exempts entrepreneurs earning below GH₵500,000 annually and offers additional reliefs for those under thirty‑five.
Businesses located outside Accra and Tema can also qualify for tax holidays of up to five years, she added, encouraging youths to explore tourism, agriculture, education and other sectors.
Traditional leader Mama Bobi III, Queen of Bake and Afetornyornufia of Ho‑Bankoe, praised the initiative, saying it is essential to shift the mindset of young people toward entrepreneurship.
“Today, the wealthiest people are not those in eight‑to‑five jobs. Entrepreneurship is the way forward, especially at a time when formal employment is scarce,” she remarked.
Bobi lamented the low attendance of young people at development programmes compared with entertainment events, noting that while the fairgrounds were packed at midnight, only a fraction attended the forum.
She urged youths to pursue ventures that solve societal problems and to take advantage of mentorship, partnership and networking platforms.
Several young entrepreneurs who participated told the Ghana News Agency that the programme provided valuable exposure, connections and renewed determination to sharpen their skills.
The forum brought together budding business owners, CEOs, traditional leaders, legal practitioners and aspiring entrepreneurs from across the Volta Region, signalling a collective push toward a more self‑reliant and prosperous Ghana.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
