A two-day dynamic policy grounds training aimed at equipping participants with theoretical, foundational, and essential practical skills in advancing liberty and free market ideals. This was on the 10th and 11th of September. With 25 participants, among them were students, liberty enthusiasts, workers and people of various professions, eager gain more insights in free market ideals, the training session was very educative and interactive.
Present were notable speakers and facilitators, including Prof. Enoch Opoku Antwi, Dr. Eamonn Butler, Mr. Bruce Koerber, Mr. Ebenezer Yamusah and Mr. Nathaniel Dwamena, who spoke and gave insights into Libertarianism, free market, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Philosophy (Objectivism) and Public Policy. Miss Hillary Esa Agbanaglo, a fellow and policy scholar at YAFO Institute was the MC of the program.
The training was divided into sixteen sessions, eight for the first day and eight for the second day and in all these sessions, the speakers took their time to elaborate and explain the various concepts in details for the participants to understand after which there were question and answer sessions for participants to request for clarification and interact with the speakers.
Mr. Nathaniel Dwamena, President of the YAFO Institute, spoke on various topics, including introduction to objectivism, which was the first lecture. He explained that one of rational individualism, where reality is objective, knowledge comes through reason, and happiness is life’s highest goal. In his presentation, Objectivism’s ethics of achievement and integrity, its political stance on individual rights and laissez-faire capitalism, and its view of art as “Romantic Realism.” Overall, he portrays Objectivism as an optimistic guide to living freely, purposefully, and productively. He went on to introduce the participants to the Battle Grounds Policy Pitch competition where they have to identify problems in their society and find some suitable solutions to those problems based on liberty and free market principles.
In another session, he gave insights into Ghana’s policy principles where he explained the foundations of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, emphasizing constitutional supremacy, the rule of law, and the people’s sovereignty. He also highlighted the Directive Principles of State Policy, covering economic, social, political, cultural, and educational goals aimed at building a just, free, and prosperous society. His last presentation was on identifying and avoiding welfarism, where he gave a clear distinction between poverty and inequality, highlighting personal responsibility, education, and motivation as key factors in overcoming them. He further stressed that while the government should provide security, law, and order, true prosperity depends on self-reliance, efficiency, and building a cooperative civil society rather than over-reliance on state welfare.
Mr. Ebenezer Yamusah, Executive Director of the Institute for New Policy Thinking, gave insights into the features of public policy, libertarian principles in public policy, public policy implementation strategies and research and advocacy for policy reform. Based on his presentation, liberal thinking within public policy formulation emphasizes individual liberty, limited government, and the rule of law. He advocates for a state that primarily ensures security and enforces contracts, while minimising intervention in civil society and the market. Key principles include protection of private property, methodological individualism, and the use of incentives to foster innovation and efficiency. In this framework, public policy should be guided by transparency, accountability, and evidence, with a focus on creating opportunities rather than guaranteeing outcomes, and should respect international cooperation and self-determination in foreign policy.
Prof. Enoch Opoku Antwi, Dean of Business Administration and Communication Arts at Academic City University and Founder of Enoch Servant Leadership Foundation, gave highlights on developing a purposeful mind where he stressed the fact that without vision, mission and purpose, there is no leadership. Also, vision comes before mission. He went on to speak about strategies of building a strong business. He highlighted the importance of planning and also delved into nonprofit business development and leadership, service and fundraising for social enterprise in Ghana.
Dr. Eamonn Butler, Director of the Adam Smith Institute, UK, spoke about the features of a free market economy. He highlighted that for a free-market economy to thrive, there should be private property – individuals owning what they create, there should be voluntary exchange, competition and limited government. He went on to explain how economic growth can be driven by the free market. Here, he emphasized that for economic growth to occur, there should be less government intervention, as excessive intervention stifles innovation. Free market merits efficiency.
Mr. Bruce Koeber, originator of the Divine Economy Theory, also explained the divine economy theory, its various elements and their significance. The theory proposes that economics is more than just markets, prices, labour, etc.—it’s rooted in deeper spiritual, ethical, and law/order foundations. He sees the economy as a complex, organic system (“divine”) whose natural functioning depends on respecting certain principles (human spirit, law, order, capital, etc.). Human interventions (like bad laws or coercive policies) disrupt its harmony, but there is a kind of natural equilibrium that, if allowed, leads to flourishing. He further explained how this theory can be applied in addressing poverty, inequality and economic growth.
In a nutshell, the training laid a foundation for the participants to gain a deeper understanding of liberty, free market principles and public policy. It offered participants more than just theories—it provided a framework for shaping society through liberty, free market principles, sound public policy, and leadership. By combining practical leadership skills with an understanding of how freedom and justice underpin economic and social progress, the training equipped individuals to become agents of positive change. As participants carry these lessons forward, they are better prepared to influence policy, champion free and prosperous markets, and lead with vision grounded in both principle and purpose.
Article by
Hillary Esa Agbanaglo
