By Ashiadey Dotse
President John Dramani Mahama has urged African leaders to ease excessive regulations and create more opportunities for young people to explore their creativity and contribute to economic growth.
Speaking at the Private-Public Business Dialogue during TICAD-9 in Yokohama, Japan, on Thursday, 21 August 2025, President Mahama said overregulation stifles innovation and prevents the private sector, especially young entrepreneurs, from reaching their full potential.
“We should not overregulate; young people need space to exercise their creative talents and contribute to sustainable growth in our countries,” Mahama emphasised.
He recalled how, during his time as Ghana’s Minister of Communications, scrapping licensing requirements for internet cafés helped the ICT sector expand rapidly across the country. According to him, this experience shows that reducing unnecessary restrictions can drive innovation, boost business growth and create jobs.
President Mahama also cautioned against treating the private sector as an enemy of government, noting that while the private sector is often described as the “engine of growth,” governments must provide the right policy environment – the “fuel” – for that engine to run effectively.
He called for African governments to rethink regulatory frameworks, especially in emerging sectors such as technology and fintech, to allow young innovators to thrive and compete on the global stage.
