Member of Parliament for Akyem Swedru Constituency in the Birim South District Eastern Region,Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko has expressed concern over the growing reluctance of wealthy Ghanaians to invest in businesses and industries that create jobs.
According to him, there are several billionaires and millionaires in Ghana, but most of them have vowed not to use their wealth to build companies due to what he describes as a “collective stigma.”
He explained that many wealthy people have regretted setting up businesses to employ people because of the thievery mindset and attitudes of some Ghanaian employees. Many businesses have collapsed, he said, because employees steal from the businesses with the mindset of becoming rich overnight at the expense of their employers.
“Because of this, it has created a collective stigma for all Ghanaians who are looking for jobs in the country,” he stated.
The MP revealed that he spoke to one successful businessman who, until recently, decided to fold up all his businesses and move all his investments into the real estate sector and other financial instruments. This, he said, was because some Ghanaian employees working in his businesses continued to steal from the business, even though he had built systems to run them.
“I think this is the time for us to talk about this very important concern of many well-to-do people in the country who are gradually shifting their investments into fixed assets and financial instruments instead of setting up businesses to create jobs for the many unemployed people,” he said.
He called for a change in attitude and mindset, urging employees to desist from attempting to become rich and own properties overnight at the expense of business owners.
“Some employees go to work with the mindset of stealing from the owner to buy cars, build houses, own luxurious items or open up similar businesses to compete with their employers. I am not saying it is not good to own a car, build a house or own your business when working with someone, but don’t steal from the business to build these things whilst collapsing the businesses of your employers,” he added.