APC Founder and Leader, Dr. Hassan Ayariga, has called for stronger safeguards to protect Ghana’s strategic national assets, natural resources, lands, and public properties from investment arrangements that may not adequately serve the country’s long-term interests.
Dr. Ayariga made the call in a Founder’s Day message in which he emphasised the need for responsible leadership, economic empowerment, and the protection of Ghana’s national interests as the country pursues development and welcomes investment.
According to him, Ghana should remain open to genuine foreign investment, but cautioned against arrangements that could result in the country losing meaningful control or value from its businesses, strategic economic assets, and natural resources.
He noted that foreign investment could provide capital, technology, expertise, and employment opportunities, but insisted that Ghanaians must have meaningful opportunities to participate in and benefit from the wealth generated from the country’s resources.
“Our lands and natural resources are not merely assets of today; they are an inheritance that must also serve generations yet unborn,” Dr. Ayariga said, stressing the need for responsible stewardship of the country’s resources.
He called for development partnerships that strengthen local businesses, promote Ghanaian ownership, create sustainable employment, and facilitate technology and knowledge transfer.
Dr. Ayariga further advocated greater transparency and accountability in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and transactions involving strategic national assets, arguing that major agreements should receive appropriate public and parliamentary scrutiny.
He also proposed that major investment arrangements should include measurable commitments on job creation, skills development, and technology transfer, while strategic lands, natural resources, and public assets should be protected from agreements that fail to deliver lasting value to Ghanaians.
The APC leader urged authorities to strengthen Ghanaian businesses so they can compete, expand, and become major partners in national development rather than remain spectators in their own economy.
He also encouraged young entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders to believe in their ideas, create jobs, and build institutions capable of contributing to national development beyond their own generation.
Dr. Ayariga concluded that Ghana could welcome investors and mutually beneficial partnerships while safeguarding its strategic interests, insisting that “Ghana is open for business, but every partnership must serve Ghana’s long-term interests. Ghana’s future must never be given away.”
Read the official statement below!
HAPPY FOUNDER’S DAY
Today, I celebrate the spirit of vision, courage, sacrifice, and determination that inspires people to build institutions that serve society and create opportunities for future generations.
As a founder, entrepreneur, and public servant, I believe that true leadership is not measured simply by what we achieve for ourselves, but by the opportunities we create for others and the legacy we leave behind.
Every great institution begins with an idea. Every successful journey begins with the courage to take the first step. Along the way, there will be challenges, setbacks, and difficult decisions, but with discipline, integrity, perseverance, and faith, a vision can become a lasting legacy.
On this Founder’s Day, I encourage young entrepreneurs, business leaders, innovators, and dreamers across Ghana and Africa: believe in your ideas, build with purpose, create jobs, empower people, and never be afraid to dream big.
May we continue building businesses and institutions that will outlive us and contribute meaningfully to the development of our communities and our nation.
I’d make the call to action concrete by focusing on local ownership, parliamentary/public scrutiny, transparency, and safeguards for strategic assets:
As we pursue development and welcome investment, we must be careful not to give away our businesses, strategic economic assets, natural resources, lands, and properties to foreign investors in the name of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
Foreign investment can contribute capital, technology, expertise, and jobs, but our development partnerships must also protect Ghana’s long-term national interest. Ghanaians must have meaningful opportunities to participate in and benefit from the wealth generated from our own resources.
Our lands and natural resources are not merely assets of today; they are an inheritance that must also serve generations yet unborn. Development should therefore strengthen local businesses, encourage Ghanaian ownership, create sustainable employment, promote technology and knowledge transfer, and ensure that a fair share of the economic value created remains within our country.
Freedom and democracy are among the core values of our Republic, but genuine national freedom must also be accompanied by economic opportunity, responsible stewardship of our resources, and the ability of our people to participate meaningfully in building Ghana’s future.
Let us welcome genuine investors and mutually beneficial partnerships while ensuring transparency, accountability, fairness, and the protection of Ghana’s strategic national interests.
Our policy direction must be clear: Ghana should establish stronger safeguards for PPPs and transactions involving strategic national assets. Major agreements should be transparent and subject to appropriate public and parliamentary scrutiny. We should prioritise meaningful Ghanaian participation and local ownership, require measurable job creation and skills and technology transfer, and protect strategic lands, natural resources, and public assets from arrangements that do not deliver lasting value to the Ghanaian people.
We must also strengthen Ghanaian businesses so that they can compete, grow, and become major partners in our national development rather than spectators in their own economy.
Ghana is open for business, but every partnership must serve Ghana’s long-term interests. Ghana’s future must never be given away.
Happy Founder’s Day!
Dr. Hassan Ayariga
APC Founder/Leader
Entrepreneur & Business Leader
