Kufuor urges Ghana to use natural resources to improve education and healthcare

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for Ghana’s natural resources to be used to provide quality education, better healthcare and a social safety net for vulnerable people, saying inclusive leadership is key to turning the country’s wealth into improved living standards.

He said Ghana’s gold, lithium, bauxite and manganese deposits, combined with the abilities of its people, gave the country a strong foundation for prosperity, but that effective leadership was needed to ensure the benefits reached ordinary citizens.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, monitored by The Executive Spotlight on Wednesday October 28, Mr Kufuor was asked what kind of Ghana he hoped young people would inherit in the next 50 years.

“We must ensure that all the children of this land are given some of the finest education you can get anywhere,” he said.

He placed education at the centre of his vision, alongside access to good healthcare and protection for people who face economic hardship.

“We must have the safety net, so even people handicapped without jobs, we don't live in abject poverty because the land is good,” he said.

Kufuor calls for support for entrepreneurs

The former president said Ghana’s natural resources alone would not guarantee prosperity unless leaders created an environment in which citizens could use their talents and resources to build businesses and generate wealth.

He urged policymakers to avoid measures that discourage entrepreneurship, singling out excessive taxation as a potential obstacle to private-sector growth.

“We shouldn't stifle initiative with, say, excessive taxation,” he said.

Mr Kufuor argued that people who acquired wealth legitimately should be allowed to retain it while meeting reasonable tax obligations.

“Let the people become millionaires, and they legitimately, why not let them keep their millions, paying their reasonable taxes?” he said.

He said the state should establish the conditions that enable individuals and businesses to succeed, rather than unnecessarily restricting their efforts.

“The state should gather the framework to empower the people,” he added.

Private sector seen as key to Ghana’s prosperity

Mr Kufuor also stressed on the potential role of private enterprise in attracting investment from both domestic and international sources.

He said allowing Ghana’s private sector to mature would help the country make better use of its resources and create more opportunities for economic advancement.

His argument places business development alongside public investment in education, healthcare and social protection as important elements of the Ghana he wants future generations to inherit.

The former president also pointed to Ghanaians’ ability to learn, coexist and distinguish themselves internationally as strengths the country could build on.

However, he acknowledged a gap between Ghana’s perceived openness and its actual experience, saying: “We tend to be open-minded and liberal, but that's not how we've lived so far.”

His comments raise questions about how Ghana can balance the need to generate public revenue with policies that encourage enterprise, while ensuring that the country’s natural wealth translates into tangible benefits for its population.