A professor of Finance and Entrepreneurship, Prof. Daniel Agyapong, has called for the introduction of Entrepreneurial and Start-up law to transform and impact positively on Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operations in the country.
Such a law, according to Prof. Agyapong, would debar politicians from making new manifestoes about SMEs during electioneering campaigns.
He said this was necessary in view of the fact that the SME sector contributed significantly to the growth of Ghana.
Prof. Agyapong said this during his inaugural lecture held at the School of Graduate Studies Auditorium of the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
It was on the topic: " Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprises’ Development Night Journey: The Road Monsters. Fairies, and Angels".
Prof. Agyapong with his immediate family.
The event was attended by some past Vice-Chancellors of the UCC, members of academia, civil society organisations and other personalities.
He used the occasion to also call for Financial Support Scheme Act for business development services for SMEs in the country.
Prof. Agyapong, who is the Director of the Directorate of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance, observed that SMEs employees who pilfer from the enterprise were hindering the progress of SMEs.
Some members of the audience at the event.
He underscored the need for a curriculum in education that were relevant to the skills and needs of the job market.
He said entrepreneurship should serve as a detonator in the country to help address the nagging issue of youth and graduate unemployment.
“For me, I believe that one of the ways to ensure social transformation is SME,” he added.
Prof. Agyapong noted that Ghana’s SMEs face considerable challenges in growing their businesses, including limited access to finance and quality technical assistance, as well as high taxation amongst others.
Prof. Agyapong being robed by some members of the College of Professors.
As part of his contributions to the sector, Prof. Agyapong said he had trained entrepreneurs on good financial management, provided skills set for struggling businesses to survive and thrive and helped them to adapt to the evolving market trends.
He stressed the need to instill the mindset of entrepreneurship in the younger generation.
He said it was for that reason that the School of Business at UCC was training students in entrepreneurship to generate ideas and recognise business opportunities.
He mentioned home, community and school as agents of socialisation of the stages of developing entrepreneurial mindset.
Prof. Daniel Agyapong at a glance:
• Born in 1974
• Hails from Sefwi Anhiawso in the Western North Region of Ghana
• Attended Suhum Secondary Technical School (SUTESCO)
• Gained admission to UCC in 1999
• Employed at UCC as a Senior Research Assistant in 2004 and rose to the rank of Principal Research Assistant
• Pursued a 2-year Master of Philosophy in Business Administration (Finance) at the University of Ghana in 2005 and completed in 2007.
• Appointed as a lecturer at UCC in 2009
• Promoted to the rank of Senior Lecturer in 2013
• Had PhD in Business Administration (Finance) from Open University Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) in 2015
• Became an Associate Professor in 2017
• Promoted to a full-fledged Professor in Finance and Entrepreneurship in February 2021
• Published extensively with over 70 research outputs, focusing on Conventional Finance and Small and Medium Enterprise financing
• Current Director of the Directorate of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance at UCC since August 2022
• A member of the University of Cape Coast
Interdenominational Church (UIC)
• Married to Prof. Gloria K.Q Agyapong, with three children
• Delivered inaugural lecture on the topic: “Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprises’ Development Night Journey: The Road Monsters. Fairies, and Angels,” on Thursday, 1 February, 2024.
Source: Documentation and Information Section