Business associations should shape policy direction- Kwesi Jonah

Takoradi, June 24, GNA - Mr Kwesi Jonah, Head of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, on Wednesday asked business associations to remain steadfast in advising government to adopt prudent economic behaviour.

He noted that Ghanaian business associations could only yield economic prosperity if they strive to influence government policies. Mr Jonah made the request at the opening of a three-day workshop on: "Promoting business associations in Ghana," which was organised by the Private Enterprise Foundation, in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS).

He spoke on the topic: "The social market economy and business associations in Ghana."

Mr Jonah said for businesses to thrive to promote economic growth, there is the need for the business associations to urge the government to create a conducive environment for the private sector.

He mentioned constraints facing the sector as the unlevel playing field, crowding out the private sector from the credit market, heavy taxation, high lending rates, and general lack of access to credit, high utility bills due to inefficiency of operators, porous security system and disregard for the rule of law.

Mr Jonah said unless the State assumes full responsibility for setting the rules for free competition, society would suffer great injustice. Mr Kwesi Afriyie Badu, Chief Executive Officer of KAB Governance Consult, a non-governmental organisation who spoke on 'the case for strengthening business associations", called on the Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies to involve business associations in fee fixing resolutions and rates in order to ensure realistic rates. He called on all business men and women to form formidable associations to be able to dialogue on common views and concerns. Mr Badu said unless entrepreneurs see the need to come together to form associations any compulsion towards that direction would not succeed. Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, said government is taking measures to protect the Small and Medium Enterprises from unfair trade competitions and fighting against the dumping of inferior goods on the market.

He said to ensure that non-Ghanaians do not venture into areas reserved for Ghanaians, a task force has been set up at the national and regional levels to enforce the laws.

Mr Aidoo entreated the business associations to wage vigorous campaign for the patronage of made-in-Ghana goods to ensure industrial growth. Mr Isaac Owusu-Mensah, Senior Programme Manager of KAS, noted that the formation of business associations enable members to relate to the government on mutually benefiting issues to promote the growth of their ventures.