General

In Accra, the price of a kilo of tomatoes is up nearly 40% compared to last year. Inflation may be easing, but at 22.4% in March 2025, everyday costs still bite hard. Friends in London tell a similar story: although the UK’s official inflation rate has fallen to 2.6%, most people don’t feel any richer; their wages haven’t really kept pace, and bills continue to climb. In the US, inflation is slightly lower at 2.4%, but that hasn’t stopped rents, healthcare costs, and the endless drip of monthly subscription fees from squeezing wallets thin. No wonder we mutter the same phrase from Kumasi to Kensington: “Nowhere cool.” That phrase has become a kind of shorthand, a way to sum up the shared, simmering frustration that something is out of balance almost everywhere. It reflects not just economic discomfort but something deeper. There is a global unease with how modern life is structured. The cost of living is only part of the story. Beneath it runs anxiety about precarity, systems under strain, and a growing sense that today’s cities, even in their gleaming modernity, aren’t built for human thriving. Why BNPL Signals a Deeper City Crisis. Something unusual is happening in how we pay for everyday things. In the UK and US, you can now buy a simple burger and split the cost into about four payments. It’s not just for fashion or tech anymore. Basic meals and even concert tickets are increasingly being paid for in instalments. At this year’s Coachella festival, around 60% of general-admission tickets were bought on credit through Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) services. That whole BNPL sector is expected to cross $560 billion globally this year. BNPL can help people manage tight budgets, yes, but if you need a loan to have dinner, it’s a warning sign. It means more people are living on borrowed comfort, not actual security. In African cities, BNPL is growing fast too. It’s powered by mobile phones, informal jobs, and the pressure to keep up. But here’s the concern: if credit becomes the main way to feel included or “modern,” we’re building cities on shaky ground. True dignity shouldn’t rely on debt for basic needs. We need systems that let people thrive without stretching their wallets to breaking point. Persons of Concern: the club no one queued for. Once used to describe refugees, the term Persons of Concern (POCs) is quietly expanding to include teachers, nurses, and even software engineers. It now includes anyone living a paycheque away from arrears. It now includes everyday hardworking people who find themselves increasingly poorer and poorer, year after year, through no fault of their own. When survival dominates the lives of 60% of a city’s residents, innovation, ambition, and investment all falter. What makes this shift more concerning is how invisible it is. Many POCs wear the mask of normalcy. They show up to work, smile at clients, and meet KPIs, all the while quietly rationing electricity, skipping meals, or delaying essential health checkups. The social contract weakens when middle-income earners become the working poor. The Three-pillar antidote In 2018, I argued that African cities must become: 1. Regionally Productive 2. Worldwide Connected 3. Self-Reliant The framework still holds. However, the stakes are higher now, so it is important that we unpack these pillars again through a 2025 lens. 1. Regional Productivity Productivity doesn’t just mean more output. It means useful output in sectors that matter, at scales that are inclusive, and with systems that reward long-term value. • Ease borders inside the border. Ghana ranks fairly well for starting a business, yet contract enforcement and customs friction drag GDP. World Bank simulations suggest that streamlining these could lift national output by up to 2%. Businesses in Kumasi shouldn’t face more red tape sending goods to Accra than they would exporting to Abidjan. • Skill up, spin up. Intra-African trade has reached $192 billion. There’s robust demand for goods made and branded on the continent. Yet our technical training systems often lag. There is a huge difference between a local skilled artisan and a local export-ready manufacturer. Yet, the gap is actually narrower than we think. We can bridge this gap, but only with the right support systems like maker spaces, certification hubs, and co-investment from diaspora networks. • Localise supply chains. Cities must cultivate internal resilience. If 80% of a hospital’s PPE must come from abroad, then every border shock becomes a health crisis. Regional production hubs, especially for essentials like food, medicine, and construction inputs, are both strategic and economic priorities. 2. Worldwide Connectivity Africa has often been plugged into global systems only as an extraction point. Examples are mining, raw exports, and data harvesting. But AfCFTA changes the game. It creates a platform for cities to negotiate their integration terms. Thirty-seven African states are shipping under AfCFTA’s Guided Trade Initiative. Digitised customs, harmonised standards, and single-origin certification let businesses comply once and then access 54 markets. Cities that plug in early will enjoy network effects down the line. But connectivity also means digital. Broadband penetration in some African capitals remains under 50%. Without reliable, affordable internet, everything from fintech inclusion to remote learning collapses. Urban investment must include fibre optics and public access points as basic infrastructure. Let’s not forget cultural exports: Nollywood films, Ghanaian music, and Francophone fashion. These connect the continent to global youth culture. Policies should help creative industries formalise, scale, and retain ownership. 3. Self-Reliance Africa still produces only around 80% of the food it consumes. But we have tools like AI-driven fertiliser maps, solar-powered cold chains, drought-resilient seeds, and many others. Urban-centred “agro-rings” could shield populations from price shocks and retain value locally. This is where decentralised infrastructure becomes key. Imagine a circular economy that doesn’t just recycle plastic but repurposes organic waste into biofertiliser for peri-urban farms. Or rooftop gardens on housing estates linked to local feeding programmes. This can happen in real life, not just in sci-fi movies. Self-reliance also includes energy. With falling solar prices and battery innovation, cities can aim to power health clinics, schools, and

So, you’re in love with an entrepreneur. That’s great. Truly. Good for you! Entrepreneurs are passionate, driven, visionary, and often a little nuts. Before you walk down the aisle, you need to understand what you’re truly signing up for. This isn’t just about late nights and high ambitions; it’s about chaos, communication, cash flow challenges, and continuous reinvention. This is a reality check, whether you’re male or female. When you marry an entrepreneur, you’re not just marrying the person; you’re embracing the mission, the business, the stress, the uncertainty, the odd bursts of inspiration at 3 a.m., and the occasional existential meltdown in the kitchen. Let’s talk about what that really means. 1. You’re Marrying a Person and a Business. Entrepreneurs don’t leave work at the office. For most entrepreneurs, work is life. Is that good or healthy? Probably not. But is that the reality of the situation? Definitely!  There’s no “off” switch, no end-of-day mental logout. Even on vacation, they’re still half-planning something, half-solving something, and half-worrying about something. You don’t just get the partner; you also get the project. And here’s the catch: whether or not you signed up to be a co-founder, you are one. Maybe not legally, but emotionally, logistically, and often financially. You’ll be asked for advice, patience, feedback, understanding, space, encouragement, perspective, and sometimes all in one day. And when things fall apart, you’re often the one helping to pick up the pieces. It doesn’t sound fair, but it is what it is. It’s not about control; it’s about partnership. However, this partnership can feel unbalanced unless both individuals are aware of what’s happening. So ask yourself: Do you want to be part of building something that isn’t yours but is deeply tied to your life? If the answer is yes, that’s beautiful. If it’s no, have that conversation now – not five years later. 2. Chaos is Part of the Package. Entrepreneurship is organised chaos… on a good day. On the not-so-good days? It’s sheer mayhem. There’s no guaranteed paycheque. There is no clear distinction between “that was a good decision” and “we just blew 20K testing something that flopped.” It’s trial and error, again and again, with high stakes and often no safety net. I am saying it as it is. If you’re someone who craves routine and predictability, this may push your limits. Although your entrepreneurial spouse may appear calm at dinner, they are likely mentally juggling supplier issues, investor doubts, and a half-broken ad campaign that is burning cash. And yes, it affects home life. It’s not intended to, but it does. Entrepreneurs often dwell in their thoughts, which means they’re sometimes physically present but mentally far away. Unfortunately, the stress of the business doesn’t remain at the office because the office is usually their phone, their laptop, their mind. This means it’s everywhere. This isn’t a justification for being distant or irritable. Instead, it offers context. If you’re marrying an entrepreneur, anticipate some degree of turbulence, regardless of whether you’re male or female. Don’t take every bad mood personally. We apologise in advance on behalf of all of us in this situation. We don’t intend to be difficult, but at times, the stress overwhelms us. 3. Communication is the Make-or-Break Skill. Entrepreneurs are skilled communicators, though not always with their loved ones. We are trained to pitch. We are fluent in selling ideas, convincing investors, and explaining visions to strangers in 90 seconds. But emotional honesty? Vulnerability? Slowing down to check in instead of rushing to fix things because we are used to getting to fixing things? That is a different language, and not every entrepreneur speaks it well. At home, that gap becomes evident quickly. Misunderstandings accumulate. Unexpressed stress festers. Your partner may assume you “get it” without ever specifying what “it” is. Consequently, you might begin to feel like a supporting character in a movie that never stops filming. Here’s the truth: communication in a marriage isn’t optional – it’s oxygen. Especially when one of you is living in startup mode. Without open, regular, honest conversations, things get weird. Fast. Statistically speaking, poor communication is a leading cause of marriage failure. It isn’t money. It isn’t cheating. It’s silence. It’s drifting apart. It’s two people who are talking yet not connecting. So, talk about everything: the wins, the worries, and the things you’re not saying. Make it normal, not dramatic. If you both can master that, you’ll overcome much more than just the business rollercoaster. 4. Money Will Be a Thing, for Better or for Worse. There’s no other way to say it: marrying an entrepreneur means money WILL be a factor. Whether there’s not enough of it yet or there’s a lot of it, both situations can be stressful. If your partner is still building, anticipate dry spells, fluctuating income, and plenty of “just one more month” optimism. You might be covering bills while they’re reinvesting every dime. You may feel as though their dream is prioritised over your financial security. And that tension is real, not just a trivial complaint. Now, if they have “made it” and the money is flowing, great! But don’t be dazzled by the numbers. A million-dollar house might come with a million-dollar mortgage. That shiny new car might be leased against next month’s projections. The question isn’t only “What do you own?” It’s also “What do you owe?” So here’s my advice: before you say “I do,” inquire about the liabilities, the loans, the burn rate, the debts. Do this not in an accusatory manner but in a way that conveys, “We’re in this together,” because you are in it, whether you like it or not. Many people get distracted by the glow-up and overlook the fine print. Don’t be one of them. 5. Success Changes Things, Including Them. People don’t talk enough about how success doesn’t fix everything. Sometimes, it breaks new things. When an entrepreneur finally hits their stride, the money starts flowing, the brand continues to grow, and

If we look back at history and by convention, the development of nations has been the primary responsibility of the central government. Governments, in their entirety, are or have been responsible for constructing roads, hospitals, electricity, water supply, and creating jobs. The role of the central government in national development is or has been even more significant in developing nations, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa.  However, the complexities of our modern societies make this approach to development less viable. Governments of developing nations like Ghana often lack the funding to solely develop the institutions, infrastructure, and human resources necessary for stronger growth and a faster end to poverty.  For instance, 15 of the 45 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have government revenues that are less than 15% of their GDP, though the exact count may vary from year to year. Additionally, government revenue in resource-rich countries in sub-Saharan Africa is less stable and higher than in resource-poor nations (Izvorski and Karakülah 2019). Therefore, there is a need for private participation through entrepreneurship.  For clarity, government revenue specifically refers to the money collected by the government, including taxes, duties, levies, royalties, and other fees. In contrast, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the total value of goods and services produced in the economy over a specific period. In other words, GDP reflects the overall economic activity within a country, while government revenue represents only the portion of that economic activity (including resource-based inflows) that contributes to the government’s budget. The Chinese government, for example, recognised a critical truth in the late 20th century: centralised economic planning had limitations. Starting circa 1978, China shifted towards market-oriented reforms, quietly allowing private entrepreneurship to thrive. This strategic pivot drove exceptional growth, enabling China, with over a billion people, to surpass Japan as the world’s second-largest economy by 2010. By 2023, China’s GDP exceeded $19 trillion, reflecting decades of private-sector innovation, infrastructure development, and strategic state support. This journey underscores the transformative power of local entrepreneurs in national development. Ghana can achieve similar success. With a GDP of around $77 billion and a population now estimated at over 34 million, Ghana possesses significant untapped potential. By empowering local entrepreneurs through supportive policies, infrastructure investment, technological innovation, and human capital development, Ghana can accelerate economic growth and resilience. Accra’s pathway to prosperity could mirror Beijing’s: leveraging local entrepreneurship, unlocking private sector creativity, and pursuing strategic economic reforms. Ghana can fuel substantial national development, drive prosperity and significantly improve living standards across the country. The importance of entrepreneurship in nation-building cannot be overstated.  From a public policy perspective, several authors have emphasised the value of an entrepreneurial environment in fostering economic development through the establishment of new businesses (Malecki, 1994; Reynolds et al., 2001). Indeed, evidence suggests a strong positive correlation between entrepreneurship and national growth (Rocha 2004). To this end, by way of a working definition, entrepreneurship is the process through which individuals pursue opportunities without regard to the resources they currently control. An entrepreneur is thus an individual who assembles and integrates all the resources needed to transform an invention or idea into a viable business.  According to Nafukho (1998), an entrepreneur is a bulldozer who can turn a hurdle into a stepping stone. The author further states that an entrepreneur can move any mountain. He is an aggressive and creative innovator who fosters the connections necessary for launching a new company.  Hayton (2002) also defines entrepreneurship as the process of identifying a need-satisfaction-related opportunity and turning it into something of value. It can also be considered the procedures and actions taken by business owners to profit from business opportunities. Otaki (2003) then states that entrepreneurship is the process of establishing a new economic entity focused on cutting-edge goods or services. Entrepreneurs are key players in any nation’s ability to stimulate entrepreneurship, which can be seen as a national asset. It is a dynamic process that goes beyond profit-making to value creation, enhancing well-being alongside wealth growth.  According to Barringer and Ireland (2016), there are three primary reasons why people choose to be entrepreneurs and start their businesses: (1) they want to be their own boss, (2) to pursue their ideas, and (3) to achieve financial rewards. As a result, many individuals view entrepreneurship as a desirable career path.  Think about your acquaintances and friends; there is a good chance you know one or two people who aspire to start their own business, either now or in the future. Another indication that entrepreneurship is increasingly popular is the growing number of books written about starting a business.  For example, Amazon.com currently lists over 89,900 books on small businesses and more than 36,900 items related to entrepreneurship. In 2013, there were 62,700 books on small businesses. Today, that number has undoubtedly and significantly increased (Barringer and Ireland 2016). Conversely, national development refers to a nation’s ability to continuously improve the welfare or quality of life of its people in areas such as education, economics, health, recreation, and more. As mentioned earlier, numerous intellectual advances have been made to prove the connection between entrepreneurship and economic growth. The Global Economic Monitor (GEM), a research organisation funded by Babson College in Massachusetts, US, and the London Business School, is dedicated to examining how entrepreneurship and economic development are related and how entrepreneurship can be fostered, particularly in developing nations. GEM conducts an annual study that can include up to 42 countries, and the findings are made public for global consumption. According to Hisrich and Peters (1998), increasing per capita output and income, as well as “initiating and constituting a change in the structure of business and society,” are what cause the relationship between entrepreneurship and economic development to exist. These authors also state that entrepreneurship programs have revitalised impoverished neighbourhoods in various countries. Ahiauzu (2010) has researched the role of entrepreneurship in Ghana’s economic development. He starts by referencing Dejardin (2000), who asserts that “an increase in the number of entrepreneurs leads to an increase in economic growth.” Morrison (2000) contends that