Government targets critical sectors for PPP

Government has marked down five priority areas for Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to accelerate achievement of developmental goals.

The areas are energy, utilities, infrastructural development (particularly road networks, railroads and ports), housing and agribusiness.

Mr Rashid Pelpuo, Minister of State in charge of Public-Private Partnerships at the Presidency, disclosed this at a cocktail and networking event hosted by the British High Commission in Accra recently.

The networking event was to inform key decision makers in the public and private sector in Ghana about Global Training Consulting Limited (GTC), a training capacity building firm in the UK.

It is also to provide a platform for senior executives in Ghana, as well as the public and private sectors, to discuss and share ideas for the country’s economic growth.

Mr Pelpuo said it was government’s desire for PPP opportunities to address a real need of the Ghanaian citizenry and to allocate risks and returns in a mutually-beneficial manner.

“It is the commitment of the president that this will be the overarching criteria that governs all agreements agreed to on behalf of the people of Ghana,” he said.

Mr Pelpuo expressed appreciation in the interest shown by the GTC in Ghana, adding that government was excited to collaborate with the Group.

He said government was particularly interested in leveraging the experience of GTC Group in improving Ghana’s capacity, institutional architecture as well as administrative framework for PPP evaluation, execution, monitoring and management.

Mr Pelpuo said, “secondly, we are interested in benefiting from the huge network of business linkages that the GTC Group must have following their long history of existence, in order to effectively execute some key projects on PPP in Ghana.

“I am confident that GTC Group will support Ghana’s desire to market its potential and opportunities across the world,” he said.

Mr Pelpuo gave the assurance that Government’s role in the PPP arrangement would be that of a broker or facilitator, bringing together various partners and initiatives.

“Government intends to drive transparency in all PPP arrangements through the entire value chain,” he added.

Mr Peter Jones, British High Commissioner, said building a capacity to sustain Ghana’s attaining a lower middle income status and to accelerate her growth was critical.

He observed that GTC Group had range of solutions to address Ghana’s situation and to deliver results.

Mr Jones said: “with extensive understanding of emerging market business environment, GTC is recognized as industry experts. From training and coaching to consulting and outsourcing, GTC specializes in equipping people with learning and skills they need to achieve their highest aspirations.”

Madam Paula Nicholson of the GTC Group said the Group had successfully supported organizations to build their capacity and to generate sustainable transformational change for decades.

She pledged that her outfit would work with Ghana to enable the country achieve sustainability in the field of PPP.

“If you can deliver the skills, knowledge and capacity where they are needed, the return on your investment can be greater than you imagined possible… and we can help you do that.”

The event was facilitated by the UK Trade and Investment Department of the British High Commission.

The Department helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy and assists overseas companies to bring their high-quality investment to the UK.

It has professional advisers across 100 international markets.