The Global President of Groupe Nduom, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has called on the incoming government to prioritise the concerns of local businesses to foster economic growth and job creation. 

He stressed that as the backbone of the economy, when policies were put in place to ensure the growth of local and Ghanaian-owned enterprises the nation benefited and the economy moved alongside.

The prominent entrepreneur and politician urged the government to engage business owners in meaningful dialogue, address challenges and create an enabling environment to empower the private sector.

Dr Nduom was speaking in an interview on the sidelines of a Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols organised by the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel in Accra last Thursday.

The hotel is a subsidiary of Groupe Nduom.

Targeting businesses

Dr Nduom urged political appointees and public officers to desist from using their power to target businesses as it would not only negatively impact the fortunes of the economy but could affect the electoral successes of their respective governments and parties in the future.

Citing Groupe Nduom, he explained that governments needed to understand that irrespective of the political affiliation of the people, they cared more about their livelihoods and economic situations so if they felt threatened, they would react accordingly.

“If you have a business like this, not all the people who work here belong to that political party. So when somebody decides to do something negative to such a business, the consequences can be immense,” Dr Nduom said.

“We go out there and talk to people to vote for those who support indigenous Ghanaian businesses and it resonates all across the country because the people who work here, they are from all over the country.

They put their politics aside and support the business. So if you want to kill the business, they will also look for you and pay you back,” he added. 

Political connections

Equally, the former Convention People’s Party (CPP) flag bearer and founder of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) cautioned businesses against using political connections as the foundation of their enterprises.

He rather encouraged them to aspire for excellence, good service and hard work to achieve their business goals.

“We also say to people that you don't align yourself unnecessarily with a political party or administration. If it's not due to your excellence, your good service and what you do, you'll be gone in a few years,” he said.

“Take a look, many hotels have come, sometimes very flashy but  they don't last. It's not just hotels, many other businesses, they come and do well for a few years because some of them rely on political contacts or government relationships,” he added.

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols to usher in Christmas and the festive season was a mixture of music, scripture reading and community spirit which attracted guests, staff, clients, affiliate institutions and members of the general public as it formed part of the 25th anniversary celebrations of the hotel. 

Nine Lessons

Some notable dignitaries included the Global President of Groupe Nduom, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, and his wife, Yvonne Nduom.

The hotel’s courtyard was transformed into a festive wonderland, adorned with twinkling lights and elegant Christmas décor to reflect the warmth, joy and grandeur of the season, making the event not only a celebration of tradition but also a visually captivating experience for attendees.

Patrons were treated to choral performances by the Winneba Youth Choir who set the tone for merrymaking and a festive atmosphere throughout the night.

The service featured the reading of nine selected Bible passages that narrated the story of salvation mirrored by the birth of Christ in the Gospels.

It was followed by a brief sermon by Rev. Fr Donatus Pallu who used the story of King Herod in relation to the birth of Jesus Christ to encourage people to do away with greed, envy and insatiable desire for wealth and power, dubbed: “Escape from the shadow of Herod.”

The President of Groupe Nduom Ghana, Dr Nana Kweku Nduom, acknowledged the hard work, discipline and dedication of the staff that had made achieving the 25 years milestone in the hospitality industry possible.

He, therefore, emphasised the need for constant improvement, innovation and adaptability in an evolving political, social and hospitality landscape.

The General Manager, Coconut Grove Regency Hotel, Ralph Ayitey, said the Groupe would continue to be responsible and supportive of the members of the Association of Ghana Industries where the hotel had held national treasure position for the last three years.

He underscored the need for the country to reduce its dependence on imported chicken and improve its capacity to close the gap.