The Technical Director and Co-founder of the Springboard Roadshow Foundation, Rev. Albert Ocran, has challenged young people to take bold steps toward their future at the 19th edition of the Springboard Roadshow, held as part of the Axim Business Summit.
The Axim edition is part of Springboard Road Show Foundation’s nationwide youth empowerment initiative, which has been running since 2007. By 2025/26, the Road Shows had cumulatively reached an estimated one million young people, with last year’s edition alone drawing over 5,000 participants at a single venue.
Delivering his keynote speech during the event, titled “Small Beginnings, Big Endings,” Rev. Ocran stated that neither lack of money nor lack of formal education should intimidate any young person. Success, he said, is not an accident but the product of deliberate choices, consistent effort, and asking the right questions.
For him, that begins with a mindset shift:
“Change the question from ‘Who will employ me? Who will help me?’ to ‘What problem can I solve?’ Money is not a reward for need; it is a reward for solving problems.” He said.
He also reminded them of the power of a good name; “A good name is like a bank account. Keeping your word, doing quality work, being honest – these are deposits. Lying, breaking promises, cheating customers – these are withdrawals. If your account goes negative, doors close.”He stressed.
Executive Director Comfort Ocran reaffirmed the Foundation’s mission of equipping young Ghanaians with the tools and platforms to unlock their full potential, highlighting some of the organization’s core pillars as youth mobilization, skills training, counseling and mentoring, and inclusion.
“We are not asking for handouts; we are saying we are creating the hand. We are creating the opportunities, and this is what exists — and therefore, let’s do it together,” she said.
Turning Potential into Prosperity: The Business Case for Axim
Charles Mensah, CEO of Trust Consult Limited, urged participants to start small, master the local market, and build a strong base before thinking global. He encouraged young people to pair formal qualifications with practical experience through apprenticeships, internships, and volunteering — and cautioned against common financial pitfalls: unrealistic “quick money” schemes, lifestyle inflation after salary increases, and the careless spending of windfalls that should instead serve as emergency savings.
Promoting “Made in Axim”
Eva Mends, Chairperson of the Kundum Planning Committee and Sompahene of the Axim Traditional Area, called on participants to take pride in locally made products and promote them boldly to the world.
“We should say ‘Made in Axim’ proudly, not apologetically,” she said.
“When people see that label, they should know it means quality, resilience, and something we have put our best into.”
She also urged accomplished natives of Axim to return home, invest, and speak confidently about the town’s potential.
A Broader Push for Nzema Youth
The Axim edition of the 2026 Road Show was organized in partnership with local leaders, organizers of the Kundum Festival and the inaugural Axim Business Summit. The programme was designed to bring national-level youth empowerment directly to Nzema youth, while spotlighting local business and development opportunities. It also aimed at pushing back against the persistent perception that “business doesn’t thrive in Axim” — countering it with real success stories of people who built careers and enterprises from humble starts, while equipping local youth with practical ideas and mindset shifts to convert Axim’s untapped potential into real prosperity.