Renowned Ghanaian business leader Sam Jonah has called for a stronger push toward local ownership of strategic national assets, urging a shift from mere participation in economic activity to meaningful control by Ghanaians.
Speaking at the official listing ceremony of Zen Petroleum Holdings PLC on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, Sir Sam Jonah highlighted the importance of expanding economic empowerment through equity ownership.
He noted that historically, a large portion of Ghana’s natural resource wealth has been controlled by foreign interests, limiting the direct benefits to ordinary citizens. According to him, increasing local ownership is essential to ensuring that Ghanaians fully participate in and benefit from the country’s economic potential.
Sir Sam Jonah, however, pointed to recent developments as encouraging signs of progress. He cited the acquisition of Azumah Resources by indigenous firms, as well as the takeover of the Damang mine by Engineers & Planners, as key milestones in advancing Ghanaian control over national resources.
“When Zen opens its shares to the public, it is not merely conducting a financial transaction—it is extending an invitation to every Ghanaian to own a piece of the company. That is empowerment in its most practical form,” he said.
He described these developments as part of a broader transformation in Ghana’s business landscape, where local entrepreneurs are increasingly asserting themselves and moving away from reliance on foreign capital.
According to him, the decision by Zen Petroleum to go public aligns with this emerging trend, offering Ghanaians an opportunity to invest directly in a homegrown company and participate in wealth creation.
Sir Sam Jonah further characterised the shift as a “quiet but consequential revolution,” driven by a growing confidence among Ghanaian businesses to scale up, access public capital markets, and compete at higher levels.
He expressed optimism about the future, noting that these developments signal steady progress toward a more inclusive and self-reliant economy.
By: Janice Opoku-Agyemang
