Donors pledge commitment to private sector

Accra, Sept. 3, GNA - Donors on Wednesday renewed their commitment to help the private sector grow in order to play its role effectively as a partner in Ghana's economy.

Mrs. Ulla Tornaes, Minister for Danish Minister for Development Assistance, who made this known at a photo exhibition mounted by five Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund beneficiaries in Accra, said the fund would fold up by 2009. The second phase of the project would, however, run for another five years so that many more people would benefit. The occasion was also to afford the donors, namely US Agency for International Development (USAID), Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and British Department for International Development (DFID) to ascertain beneficiaries' achievements and challenges in their day-to-day operation.

The beneficiaries include the Sunyani Market Association that engages in variety of trading activities, Ghana Agricultural Input Dealers Association, which provides support to farmers in Ashanti Region and Sunbariwa Shea Butter Producers Association from the Upper West, which is engaged in the processing of sheanuts. Others are Spinnet Textiles and Garments Cluster in the Greater Accra Region, Akpokpe Kente Weavers Association and Suame Magazine Industrial Development Organization (SMIDO) from the Ashanti Region. Mrs Tornaes, who welcomed other development partners to the BUSAC Fund noted that there was room for further deepening of cooperation between them.

Mrs Henrietta Fore, Director of US Foreign Assistance and Administrator for USAID, in a statement applauded Ghana's advocates who had worked at the local, regional and national levels for legal and regulatory changes in improving the business environment in Ghana. Mrs Fore noted that creating an environment for re-enforcing a competitive vibrant business community was essential to building a robust economy.

Ms Laurencia Tettey, Grants Manger, BUSAC Fund, said Ghana's private sector faced a number of challenges, which limited the potential of businesses to contribute effectively to economic growth. These include access to productive resources, systems and procedures for sustaining business profitability, she said, adding that this led to the establishment of BUSAC. She said BUSAC had embarked on advocacy activities that would influence public policies and create dialogue. Ms. Tettey said the BUSAC Fund had provided grants for over 300 advocacy actions by different associations especially those in the agricultural and the manufacturing sector, and service providers. Ms. Jane Mensah, Secretary, Sunyani Market Women Association, noted that advocacy action offered by BUSAC had enabled its members to pay their taxes promptly.

According to her members who kept evading tax collectors were able to dialogue and pay them according to their profit margin. Ms. Felicia Akowuah of the Ghana Agricultural Input Dealers' Association said her association had been able to sensitize farmers on the adulteration of chemicals on the market. Mr George Asamoah, President of SMIDO, lauded BUSAC for contributing to the formation of the umbrella body, adding that, they had now acquired 1,000 hectares of land to set up an industrial village.