Support agriculture, manufacturing – GCCI

The Ghana Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) has reiterated its call on government to adequately support Ghana’s manufacturing and agriculture sectors to create more jobs, reduce poverty and enhance livelihood in the country.

Seth Adjei Baah, President of GCCI, who made the call, was speaking at its 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Accra.

Mr Adjei Baah expressed the readiness of the Chamber to collaborate with Government to address challenges confronting the country’s private sector, adding that operators in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors need to do more to stay competitive.

He, however, commended Government for making some progress in the last few years in terms of economic growth and the containment of inflation.

Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, who read a speech read on behalf of Trade Minister, Haruna Iddrissu, commended the Chamber for its immense contributions over the years in promoting Ghana’s private sector.

“The Chamber has over the years through its thoughtful leadership served as a watchdog to government policies affecting the private sector and has also helped to reshaped such policies” he said.

According to Mr. Vanderpuye, the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry was instrumental in renewing the current Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund (EDAIF), adding that “This was possible due to the relationship the Chamber has with the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

A vibrant private sector that works closely with government is a recipe for growth, development, creation of wealth, as well as the achievement of a diversified economy, the Deputy Trade Minister pointed out.

“Government recognizes this and is therefore committed to creating an improved business environment to reposition the state to proactively deliver support to the private sector.”

Enumerating challenges faced by players in the private sector, he said Government would continue to make conscious efforts to surmount the problems. He therefore urged all businesses in the country to be more creative and innovative.