Richard E. Addison has been appointed Ghana Country Lead for the Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs – Africa (CAYE Africa), a continental network focused on youth enterprise, trade, and policy engagement across Commonwealth states.
The appointment strengthens Ghana’s role within the alliance, which links youth entrepreneurship organisations and young business leaders across Africa to promote market access, enterprise growth, and coordinated policy dialogue.
Mr Addison is a Ghanaian entrepreneur and youth development advocate with a long record of business leadership. He previously served as President of the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs, where he pushed for wider regional access to enterprise support and stronger responses to youth unemployment.
Speaking after his appointment, Mr Addison said young entrepreneurs across Africa are seeking access rather than aid. He noted that open markets, fair financing, and partnerships matter more than short-term support.
He described Africa’s key challenge as limited market connectivity rather than a lack of talent or ideas. His focus, he said, will be on building stronger trade links among Commonwealth member countries and encouraging collaboration in enterprise, innovation, and investment.
Mr Addison said Ghana holds a strategic position within the Commonwealth due to its political stability, regional trust, and history of diplomacy and trade. He said his priority is to position Ghana as a meeting point where young entrepreneurs connect, collaborate, and build businesses for regional and global markets.
The Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs – Africa operates as part of a wider Commonwealth-inspired effort to strengthen economic opportunities for young people through trade, enterprise, and cross-border cooperation.
The appointment follows Ghana’s active engagement with the alliance. In 2023, the Chairperson of CAYE Africa, Sherif Ghali, was nominated to lead the continental network, reinforcing the alliance’s youth-led approach to enterprise development.
Mr Addison’s mandate includes coordinating national activities, linking Ghanaian entrepreneurs to regional networks, and building partnerships with government, development agencies, and private sector actors.
His appointment comes as Ghana advances new policy measures aimed at supporting small businesses and youth-led enterprises under recent national budget frameworks.
CAYE Africa officials say the move is expected to deepen Ghana’s engagement with the wider Commonwealth business network and support cross-border trade, enterprise growth, and youth participation in global markets.
Source: Evans Effah
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