At a meeting of self-employed and small scale business people in the Brong Ahafo Region, Nana Akufo-Addo indicated that his government will support local and small-scale entrepreneurs by providing a conducive and enabling business environment for businesses to grow and compete in our region and beyond.
On the first day of his tour of the Brong Ahafo Region on Monday, October 5, Nana Akufo-Addo interacted with a host of identifiable groups and businesses owners to listen to their concerns at Sunyani.
The groups, totalling 38 in number, included members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU); Ghana National Association of Teachers; National Association of Graduate Teachers; market women; local restaurant operators; fish and meat sellers; second-hand clothes dealers; tailors; barbers; hairdressers; butchers; taxi drivers; members of the Private Transport Operators Association; amongst others.
Their major concerns centred on the unstable nature of Ghana’s currency, high interest rate charges from banks, as well as the high import duties they are faced with at the ports, which, they explained, posed a serious challenge to the survival of their businesses.
“Because of the high import duties, we are forced to transfer this cost onto the consumer. Things are very difficult in Ghana at the moment, and as such people do not even patronise our wares anymore. How can we survive?” a business woman asked.
Representatives of the Taxi No. 2 branch in Sunyani also complained about high premiums being charged by insurance companies, which they stated had increased from some GH¢70 to something within the region of GH¢400.
Speaker after speaker poured out the frustrations they are faced with on a daily basis, in their attempts to make ends meet and cater for their dependants, as well as employees.
Taking his turn to speak, Nana Akufo-Addo explained that the founding fathers of the political tradition he belongs to had two fundamental concerns.
The first concern, according to him, was that Ghana should be a democratic state, governed under the rule of law.
“Secondly, they believed that Ghana’s economic development should be undertaken by the private sector. They were of the firm belief that Ghana had an abundance of entrepreneurial talents which should be given free rein to develop, as this represents the best way to develop Ghana rapidly,” he said.
He explained that the crippling economic situation prevailing in Ghana is as a result of the gross economic mismanagement and widespread corruption the country has been plunged into under 7 years of incompetence on the part of the NDC-led government.
There was, however, hope for them, Nana Akufo-Addo said. Victory for the NPP next year will restore hope.
He assured them that his government will rationalise the fiscal regime to encourage local production and businesses. He said his government will provide fiscal incentives and institutional support to promote and spur development of the private sector, which will, in turn, move Ghana away from being highly indebted and poor.
“There was a time in Ghana, under the era of President Kufuor, when the banks were literally chasing people to come for loans. It is the reverse, now, under this government. I can assure you that when we come to office, we will have such times in Ghana again. All we seek to do is to create conditions to allow self-employed and private enterprises to flourish, and to stimulate entrepreneurial ingenuity”, he assured.
Source: NPP Communications Directorate
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