Dr. Ishmael Yamson, Board Chairman of MTN Ghana, has urged Ghanaian policymakers to focus on long-term economic stability, stressing that only sustained growth over at least a decade can build a prosperous economy and earn investors’ trust.
He made the remarks as the keynote speaker at the Annual New Year School and Conference held at the University of Ghana on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
The three-day event, themed “Building the Ghana We Want Together for Sustainable Development,” brings together policymakers, academics, business leaders, and stakeholders to discuss strategies for national development.
According to Dr. Yamson, Ghana has historically struggled to maintain consistent economic stability, often alternating between periods of growth and decline.
“We have never been able to prudently manage our economy over a long-term period and avoid the recklessness we have reportedly seen since independence, for which reason the country has sort IMF bailout 17 times.
“A situation where every two to three years, we build the economy, create confidence, and then take one to two years to destroy whatever has been created and then start all over again, is only a recipe for perpetual poverty,” he said.
He emphasized that Ghana needs at least 10 years of disciplined, resilient economic performance to demonstrate that the nation is capable of sustainable growth and worthy of investor confidence.
Dr. Yamson highlighted the importance of structural reforms, prudent fiscal management, and strategic planning to create a stable economic environment that benefits citizens and supports long-term development.
“Ghana needs a minimum of 10 years of consistent, solid, good, resilient economic performance to demonstrate a sustainable, prosperous economy worthy of investors’ trust and confidence,” he added.
