大象传媒

The African economies have achieved impressive rates of growth in the last few years. Big business attached to the commodities market, in particular the mining sector, has generated huge wealth. But small and medium sized businesses are not doing as well. Why not? We hear from the influential former President of Ghana John Kufuor, who tells us that not enough has been done to create an environment in which the private sector flourishes, enabling smaller businesses to take root and a solid African middle class to grow. But, he believes things are starting to change.

Tokunboh Ishmael is co-founder and managing director of Alitheia Capital, a fund management and investment firm in Nigeria. She is also advising the Nigerian government on how to generate an effective business environment. She tells us she believes better education, fairer taxation and better access to finance in Nigeria, would make all the difference. Plus, in Ethiopia, James Hassam hears from the country's emerging middle class about hopes, dreams and jobs.