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Release
NPP, October
22, 2012
AKUFO-ADDO’S SPEECH TO AGI ON THE 22ND OF OCTOBER, 2012
The President of AGI, members of Council, members of AGI,
members of the media, invited guests, distinguished ladies and
gentlemen, fellow Ghanaians. In about 45 days’ time on the 7th
of December, we shall be going to the polls to elect a
President to manage the affairs of the nation for the next
four years.
The NPP has deeply embedded in its philosophy and ideology an
unshakeable belief in open markets as the most effective means
of developing and allocating resources in any given economy.
This is the party that supports business and many of our
policies have been towards energizing and liberating the
Ghanaian entrepreneur. We want the Ghanaian entrepreneur to be
in the forefront of the critical national assignment of
undertaking the structural transformation of our economy. The
raw material exporting economy, which I have dubbed the
‘Guggisberg economy’, has run its course.
You know better than most the business confidence that existed
during the Kufuor administration resulting in an expansion of
the economy by four times, without oil and at a time when
commodity prices were under downward pressure. Additionally,
the setting up of a Ministry for Private Sector facilitated
and resulted in reforms that improved the business environment
and Ghana was voted the best reformer by the World Economic
Forum’s Doing Business ratings. Ghana was also voted the best
place to do business in West Africa.
We very much still believe that for our economy to grow, we
need to support and energise the private sector to grow
exponentially, create jobs and be the main instrument for
economic growth. I pledge that should I, God willing, be voted
as president of Ghana come December 2012, a new era of
ascendency of Ghanaian business will also come into play.
Government’s role in this regard will to be to ensure that we
have a globally competitive business environment and private
sector.
In our manifesto, we have outlined an audacious and forward
thinking blueprint that we believe will change the economic
landscape and fortunes of our country. We have clearly spelt
out a transformation agenda and programme, which not only will
change things, but also essentially result in a globally
competitive business environment with the private sector at
the core. We strongly believe government and private sector
should lean in the same direction to create jobs and wealth.
Any country that seeks to develop must have aggressive plans
that change things in a dynamic and forward manner. I
therefore propose a new economic order to transform our
economy along two paradigms, firstly to add value to our
natural resources and manufacture what we need and consume,
and, then secondly, to become an export oriented economy,
firstly targeting the West Africa region and then venturing
out into the wider global economy. We are blessed with all the
resources we need to achieve our goal, it only takes true
committed leadership, and the support of our hard working
entrepreneurs and business people.
The broad components of the transformation agenda are:
• increasing agricultural production and adding value to our
products through agro processing
• developing and adding value to our natural resources,
including oil and gas, salt, gold, bauxite, iron ore,
manganese and other natural resources
• supporting and promoting industry, especially small and
medium scale entrepreneurs and businesses to be competitive in
import substitution and exports through a comprehensive review
and reform of our trade policy
• promoting high-value services, including penetration of ICT
services, financial services, education, health and tourism,
all for which Ghana is competitive
• supporting and making Ghana the pharmaceutical manufacturing
centre for the West Africa region and beyond.
To achieve this transformation means that we need to tackle
the barriers that mitigate our becoming a true modern economy.
These are:
Power and Energy
• Interminable Problems of Power and Energy, to which we have
to find solutions to ensure reliable supply of power and
energy for our industrial and manufacturing sectors.
Infrastructure
• We shall implement an aggressive infrastructure programme
focused on expanding the key areas of economic activity.
Education
• We are committed to the education of all Ghana’s children to
the Secondary school level with greater emphasis on Science
and mathematics and technical subjects better to meet the
needs of industry, and, thereby, create a globally competitive
workforce.
Governance and business environment
• We will reduce the overall cost of doing business and make
Ghana attractive as an investment opportunity by streamlining
bureaucracy, and achieving macroeconomic stability
• Completing the National Identification System
The NPP has always been at the forefront of empowering our
businesses to lead the economy. We strongly believe that the
time has come to cement further this notion and make private
sector the largest actor in the economy. It is a matter of
political will reinforced by committed and honest leadership.
That is why I find it possible to sign, on behalf of the NPP,
the document setting out the commitment to private sector
facilitation and development to the AGI.
This is an exciting time for Ghana and yes we can build a
nation we all desire and achieve our dreams of a peaceful
society of opportunities and prosperity. We need your support
and I ask for your endorsement to move our country forward. It
is a partnership for mutual benefit.
God bless you
God bless Ghana.
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