Ghana’s economic transformation post coronavirus anchored in private sector - AGI

The Chairperson of the Electrical and Electronics Sector of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mrs. Kate Quartey-Papafio has called on Government to procure more products and services locally from its members nationwide.

The Sector Chairperson said post-COVID locally owned Ghanaians businesses have to be supported fully to help them continue to stay in business because the COVID has put a strain on industries all over the world most especially that of the developing economies.

Mrs. Papafio emphasized that most of the locally owned businesses have made significant investment into their establishments and since most of their activities have been frustrated by the pandemic it is incumbent on the government to support them fully to maintain their current capabilities.

She added that policy framework such as the local content policy should be made more resolute and stricter to give much comfort to the locally owned Ghanaian businesses within the country.

She further stated that should the government help implement this their benefit will be vast and it will span across areas like job creation, boost in domestic economies, boost in payment of taxes among many other benefits.

Some of the challenges she enumerated include rigid tax regimes on importation where she said sometimes the duty paid on raw materials is almost the same as duty paid on finished product brought into the country and this that not inure to the benefit of the local companies.

She said it is her sole desire for the Buy Ghana Build Ghana, creating a market for local industries mantra be made a national assignment by Trade Ministry and be made a top priority to enable government to achieve Ghana beyond Aid Agenda.