Nana Kwame Bediako known as Freedom Jacob Caesar or Cheddar[1] is a Ghanaian businessman. He is the founder and chairman of Kwarleyz Group focused on real estate, finance and property management in West Africa.[2] Bediako is the developer of Wonda World Estate and the proposed Petronia City.[3][4][5] He is the founder of New Africa Foundation focusing on less fortunate children providing medical, nutritional and educational support.[6][7][8][9] He is contesting as an independent presidential candidate in the 2024 Ghanaian general election[10][11].

Nana Kwame Bediako
Born
Freedom Jacob Caesar

February 13, 1980 (age 44)
Asokwa Ashanti Region
NationalityGhanaian
EducationApam Senior High School

Accra Academy

Waltham Forest College
Occupation(s)Founder, chairman
Known forPetronia City

Early life and Education

edit

Nana Kwame Bediako was born on February 13, 1980, in Kumasi, Ghana. While his father was remarkably wealthy, his mother (who brought him up) was quite poor. Nana grew up alongside his brother and later honed his entrepreneurial skills under his father's watch.[12]

Nana Kwame Bediako was born in Asokwa, a suburb in the Ashanti Regional capital Kumasi in Ghana. He attended Accra Academy before moving to Apam Senior High School. He studied Business at the Waltham Forest College, United Kingdom [6] and is also an alumnus of the University of Westminster in London.

Business career

edit

Bediako's business career began with financial support from his father to he and his brother, purposely to assist their mother financially and this sparked his entrepreneurial endeavors. While his brother bought eggs and bread with the money, Bediako bought two hens and started a poultry business. The business expanded and he sold two hundred (200) eggs a month. Once at the Waltham Forest College, UK, he began selling clothes to fellow students and within a short period, bought his first car with profits he made from the business.[13] He later diversified his business to scrap metal collection and sales before venturing into the telecommunication sector in 1999. He established a company which billed people for online transactions during the dotcom era, which an Indian investor offered to buy for £327,000, but he declined on the advice of his lawyer. The investor later returned with an offer of £410,000 which he then accepted. Upon consolidating his funds, Bediako achieved his first million-pound milestone,[14] inspiring a vision for a lucrative entrepreneurial venture and an ambition to establish a successful, high-growth business.[15][16]

Having achieved his inaugural £1 million milestone, Bediako felt divinely guided to expand his entrepreneurial endeavors in Africa, prompting his return to Ghana, his homeland where he started Kwarleyz Group with diverse interests in real estate, finance[17] and property management.[18] The Kwarleyz Group is the developer of the Wonda World Estate[19] in Accra and the proposed Petronia City. The Kwarleyz Group has constructed 500 units of residential, commercial and industrial buildings.[20][21]

Political Activities

edit

On 7 January 2024, Bediako announced that he would run as the candidate for the New Force movement. This followed weeks of speculation during which the New Force teased its fielding of a "masked" candidate who was widely expected to be Bediako. The announcement, which was due to take place at Black Star Square, was postponed after the presidential administration pulled the permit for the rally, citing "an unforeseen state event".[22]

Bediako announced Maryam Issaka Kriese as his running mate for the 2024 general election.[23][24]

The New Force

edit

The New Force is a new movement formed in Ghana led by Nana Kwame Bediako.[25] The movement is a political stand that has grabbed the attention of Ghanaians.[26] The New Force was founded by Nana Kwame Bediako. The movement seeks to create a new narrative in the political stands in Ghana. The movement is represented by a coalition of individuals, grassroots activists who are not comfortable with Ghana's economy.[citation needed]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Worry about depreciating Cedi, not my 'Freedom Coin' – Cheddar replies BoG". GhanaWeb. 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  2. ^ "Ibitins: Mary J. Blige now dates Ghanaian business mogul Nana Kwame Bediako". Ghana Weekend. 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  3. ^ "Nerves Of Steel: This Ambitious Property Tycoon Is On A Mission To Transform Accra's Skyline". www.forbesafrica.com. 2020-05-06. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  4. ^ Editorial Staff (2015-07-12). "Meet Nana Kwame Bediako, The 33-Year-Old Ghanaian Making It Big In The Real Estate Business". African Leadership Magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  5. ^ Ibiefo, Frances (2023-09-29). "Nana Kwame Bediako: Africa Needs To Give Youth Chance To Lead Their Countries". Arise News. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  6. ^ a b Africa, S. I. A. (2020-02-07). "Nana Kwame Bediako, SIA-Africa Person Of The Month, January 2020". SIA Africa. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  7. ^ "Nana Kwame Bediako Gifts 5-bedroom House And GH600K To Conjoined Twins". 2021-08-20. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  8. ^ "Nana Kwame Bediako supports Muslims with food items". 2020-05-26. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  9. ^ "Nana Kwame Bediako gifts conjoined twins 5-bedroom house". Ghana Weekend. 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  10. ^ "EC clears 13 presidential candidates for Election 2024, PNC's Bernard Mornah and 10 others disqualified".
  11. ^ "Electoral commission confirm 13 presidential candidates for Ghana election".
  12. ^ Steffie, Ann (2022-02-28). "Nana Kwame Bediako's biography: Age, family, property, educational background". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  13. ^ "Nana Kwame Bediako Archives". GhanaCelebrities.Com. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  14. ^ "I made 1 million Pound Sterling while selling fake designer shirts in London - Nana Kwame Bediako". Ghana Weekend. 2022-12-15. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  15. ^ Adams, Asonaba (2020-02-09). "Who is Nana Kwame Bediako Cheddar? | Accra Mail". Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  16. ^ "Who is Nana Kwame Bediako, the Ghanaian millionaire reportedly dating Mary J Blige?". Prime News Ghana. 2019-02-13. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  17. ^ "Nana Bediako tells Bank of Ghana to worry about cedi depreciation not his 'Freedom Coin'". Ghana Weekend. 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  18. ^ Tackie, Samuel (2020-11-16). "Meet Nana Kwame Bediako, one of Ghana's youngest and brightest real estate entrepreneurs". Ghana Talks Business. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  19. ^ Kamasah, Andreas (2022-05-20). "I bought tigers for tourism, not to terrorise people - Freedom Jacob Caesar". Pulse Ghana. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  20. ^ "Nana Kwame Bediako Wins Top Forbes Award". DailyGuide Network. 2021-08-19. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  21. ^ Online, Peace FM. "Nana Kwame Bediako Donates To Thousands Ahead Of The Partial Lockdown". Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  22. ^ Ankrah, Nana Oye (9 January 2024). "Ghana's mystery presidential candidate pulls off his mask". Semafor. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  23. ^ "Nana Kwame Bediako unveils Maryam Issaka Kriese as running mate - MyJoyOnline". www.myjoyonline.com. 2024-10-05. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  24. ^ https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/dr-maryam-esaka-kriesie-is-nana-kwame-bediakos-vice-presidential-candidate.html
  25. ^ "We're here to give hope to 'fearful' entrepreneurs – New Force Movement". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  26. ^ Quist, Ebenezer Agbey (2023-11-05). "Man with mask seen on multiple billboards in different regions, netizens amazed". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 2024-06-13.