AGI to forge closer ties with government

The newly elected President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Dr. Yaw Adu Gyamfi, has stated that under his leadership the Association will collaborate more extensively with government, policymakers and regulators, to ensure effective implementation of government’s industrialisation agenda.

“In particular, we will do our utmost best to ensure realisation of the One District, One Factory policy,” he said.

Dr. Adu Gyamfi said this at the investiture ceremony for the new National Council Members of the AGI in Accra last week.

He said the industrialisation programme, along with a ‘Buy Made in West Africa’ campaign, is crucial for addressing the problem of unemployment, particularly, among the youth. It is time for us to realise that no country in West Africa can resolve its unemployment problem alone.

“Our borders are porous and our people move freely among the countries in search of opportunities. We intend to work with other Manufacturer Associations, especially in the Republic of Nigeria, and encourage our governments to coordinate industrial policies in the ECOWAS region,” Dr. Adu Gyamfi explained.

He said the present slow pace of cooperation is hurting all economies in West African countries, and we need to work together. The whole region is likely to continue losing jobs to the tigers of Asia unless we learn how to work together.

“We recognise the importance of taxes and entreat government to ensure that taxes, especially import duties under the new common external tariff regime for ECOWAS, are vigorously enforced with adequate and transparent valuation of imports which compete with locally manufactured products. This will help promote local investments for development of the economy”, the AGI President explained.

Dr. Adu Gyamfi said the Association will engage in a cutting-edge evidence-based research on various sectors of the Ghanaian economy in order to “make meaningful inputs to government’s policy decision-making in the private sector’s interest, and educate our members on business trends in the economy”.

General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar, Former President of Nigeria and Guest of Honour, said it is time for Ghana to promote its business and industrial relations with Nigeria through investment, collaboration, training and trade for the benefit of ECOWAS.

He said this will create a common market for the over-200 million people in both countries.

Mr. Robert Ahomka-Lindsay, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, lauded the AGI’s contributions over the years toward the nation’s economy and pledged governments support toward realisation of the Association’s objectives.