The Mayor of Cape Coast, Hon. George Justice Arthur, has disclosed that the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA) intends to provide financial support in a form of grant to 100 women and youth-led businesses through the Assembly’s Internally Generated Fund (IGF) as part of efforts to promote entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic growth within the metropolis.

He emphasized that the support will come along with additional training on book keeping and packaging for entrepreneurs set to benefit of the support package.

According to the Mayor, the initiative forms part of the Assembly’s broader economic empowerment agenda aimed at strengthening small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), particularly businesses owned by women and young people who continue to face challenges in accessing startup and expansion capital.

Speaking at the 2026 Cape Coast Business Summit held on Sunday at the Pempansie Hotel, Mr. Arthur indicated that the Assembly recognizes the critical role of women and youth entrepreneurs in local economic development and is therefore committed to investing in their growth through targeted financial and capacity-building interventions.

He explained that beneficiaries would be selected from various sectors of the local economy and would receive support to expand their operations, improve productivity, and create additional employment opportunities for residents.

The Mayor noted that the Business Summit is expected to serve as a strategic platform to connect entrepreneurs, investors, development partners, policymakers, and business leaders to explore opportunities for investment and enterprise development in Cape Coast, as the summit also aligns with the Assembly’s eight (8) year development plan focused on economic growth, job creation, and inclusive development. 

Hon. Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, the Central Regional Minister, having graced the occasion in sharing his thoughts on how to make Cape Coast a business thriving city, observed that the issue isn't about the absence of thinking minds but rather what entrepreneurs get to hear from the citizenry on who the people are, which turns to drive them far from the city.

The Regional Minister again described most Ghanaian business owners as cowards, who out of fear of losing their investment, turns to align their businesses with political parties at its growing state to enjoy undue political favours, as he quizzed to find out what the fate of such business will be without political affiliation but implored Ghanaian business owners to strive to operate independently.

Mr. Tonye Patrick Cole, a Nigerian Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Sahara Group and the Main Speaker for the event, re-echoed that for businesses to thrive in Cape Coast, indigenes are the best persons to market themselves, since no investor will be intrigued to invest at a place where its own people speaks ill of and urged entrepreneurs to act with confidence since money lies where confidence reign.

Organizer for the summit and Founder of Buston Foundation, Rev. Betty King, also noted that her effort in putting such event up is to support the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly through mentorship, partnership and collaboration, as she urged residents of Cape Coast to unite for a bustling city.

Sompaonline.com//Eric Annan