Business associations have hailed the creation of the new Ministry of Business Development.
The businesses argue that the ministry will take them a step closer to solving their numerous business challenges.
President Nana Addo in his third batch of ministerial nominations, announced the Chief Executive Officer of Marble Communications Group Limited, publishers of the Finder Group of Newspapers, Ibrahim Mohammed Awal as the nominee for the newly created Ministry of Business Development.
“The development of business is a central feature of the work we want to do and as we need that for a vibrant business community in Ghana a thriving Ghanaian business community and the tool that will bring about the transformation and development of our country.” he said.
Lawyer and a council member of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), David Ofosu – Dorte has since 2015 been advocating strongly for the creation of a Ministry of Business.
According to him, it will be the responsibility of the ministry to resolve all bottle necks that make Ghanaians businesses uncompetitive.
“It is strange that for a country that wants to be competitive we do not have a minister for business; even the United Kingdom actually has a minister for business whose duty is to ensure that businesses constantly have their interests catered for,” he stated.
He further stressed, “What we have done in the past is to look at the private sector and we have opened it, closed it and made it a staffer…The private sector should convince government to appoint the minister for business and the business cuts across all the sectors that I have described and if governments do it we should praise them when praise is due.”
At the time, former Trade and Industry Minister, Dr. Ekow Spio Garbrah rejected the call.
He argued that a change in the attitudes of public and civil servants should create the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive.
The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), had initially opposed the call explaining it will add unto government’s expecnditure.
But reacting to the recent appointment by President Nana Addo, President of GUTA, Barima Dr. Ofori Ameyaw I, welcomed the new ministry.
He tells Citi Business News the move will among others enhance business growth.
“We will count as having three or even four ministries which will have direct bearing on our businesses; we will try and contact and see to what will work together and see how best we can achieve the intent to which government has set up the business development ministry,” he remarked.
“But I believe that with all intent and purposes, the President is bent on making sure that he succeeds with the governance system that he wants to operate,” Barima Dr. Ofori added.
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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
