Kumasi, Feb 23, GNA - The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) in collaboration with Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the Ashanti Region, have held a day's workshop in Kumasi to brainstorm on the challenges facing businesses in the private sector for accelerated development. It was also designed to enable the participants deliberate and make inputs on the AGI/SME Agenda, to identify priorities and present a plan of action for a better business environment whiles unleashing the full potentials of SMEs. Topics treated included innovation and technology, security, legal environment and business ethics, financial environment, education, human capital and labour relations, business climate as well as land ownership.

Addressing the workshop, Mr Cletus Kosibah, Chief Executive Officer off the AGI, said SMEs in the country needed a supportive business environment for growth and development of the economy. He said it was important to create a platform to bring public institutions and policy-makers together on a regular and sustainable basis to sensitise them on the role of SMEs in national development. Mr Kosibah said SMEs needed financial, technical and moral support to help them adopt best practices to strengthen the private sector.

Dr. Alfred Barimah of the Economics Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, tasked SMEs to preserve their data to ensure good recordings of their businesses. He urged participants to make useful contributions to the workshop to ensure its success.