Government has challenged businesses operating in Ghana to pursue profitability alongside social responsibility, warning that commercial success cannot be sustained at the expense of consumers, workers, communities or the environment.
Delivering a speech on behalf of the Chief of Staff, Dr. Julius Debrah, at the Ghana Converge Summit 2026, Presidential Adviser on National Resilience and Emergency Preparedness, Hon. Ernest Brogya Genfi said responsible business practices were essential to building investor confidence, protecting reputations and securing long-term economic growth.
He said profitability must not be pursued at the expense of consumers, communities or the environment, stressing that ethical commerce was not simply a moral obligation but an economic necessity.
“The true measure of a successful business is not found solely in the size of its balance sheet or the scale of its profits,” he said.
He challenged businesses to consider the number of jobs they create, how they treat their workers, whether they comply with the law and pay their taxes, how they protect consumers, and the extent to which they contribute to the communities in which they operate.
According to him, businesses do not operate in isolation but function within communities, benefit from public infrastructure and depend on broader social and economic stability.
“Responsible business must leave visible footprints of progress in the communities where it operates,” he said.
Using Tema as an example, Hon. Brogya Genfi said the concentration of industries and businesses in the area presented an opportunity for companies to generate significant social impact through meaningful corporate social responsibility.
He said the cumulative effect of stronger corporate responsibility could contribute to improvements in infrastructure, educational opportunities, environmental conditions and the quality of life of residents.
He therefore urged companies to recognise that commercial success and social responsibility should not be treated as competing objectives.
“We also need businesses that are responsible. Businesses that pursue growth while respecting the law. Businesses that create wealth while preserving trust,” he said.
He argued that sustainable commerce should be viewed not as a constraint on business but as an investment in long-term competitiveness, resilience and growth.
The speech placed particular emphasis on trust as a critical component of sustainable enterprise.
According to Hon. Brogya Genfi, companies that earn the confidence of customers, employees, investors and regulators are better positioned to attract investment, navigate uncertainty and build enduring value.
“A company may purchase technology. It may acquire infrastructure. It may raise capital. But trust must be earned,” he said.
He linked the call for responsible commerce to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production.
He said economic growth must generate decent jobs, productive employment and shared prosperity, while businesses must use resources responsibly, reduce waste and recognise the environmental and social consequences of production and consumption.
Hon. Brogya Genfi maintained that responsible business practices could strengthen rather than undermine profitability by building trust, protecting corporate reputations, improving productivity, attracting talent and enhancing long-term resilience.
“The choice before us is therefore not between profit and responsibility. The choice is between short-term gains and long-term prosperity,” he said.
He called for an enterprise environment in which Government continues to strengthen institutions and create predictable rules, while businesses uphold high standards of integrity, innovation and accountability.
