PEF organizes roundtable discussion on 2010 budget

Takoradi, Dec. 11, GNA - Mr Felix Tettey-Fio, a consultant at the Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF), has appealed to contractors to take up government jobs to enable the government to achieve infrastructural development targets outlined in the 2010 budget. He said this at a one-day roundtable discussion on the business opportunities in the 2010 budget and economic policy statement for public and private sector stakeholders on Thursday. Mr Tettey-Fio said some contractors were reluctant to do government jobs because of the delay in payment but contractors should in the interest of the country meet the government half way and execute projects earmarked in the budget.

He urged contractors to remove mistrust and to pool resources to execute big projects when necessary and to be transparent when they form partnerships and consortiums. Mr Tetteh-Fio appealed to the government to put in place measures to reduce the long delays in the payment for goods and services procured.

"Several service providers have had their businesses distressed as a result of this proxy borrowing by government." Mr Tetteh-Fio said government should promote growth enhancing policies while maintaining the macroeconomic stability gains made so far.

He said the fight against corruption must go beyond mere campaigning. "There is the need to resource appropriate institutions to take the fight seriously and this is especially so with the emerging oil industry," her said.