Kufuor reaffirms support for private sector development

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday reaffirmed the commitment of his government to promote the growth of the private sector to meet the challenges of globalisation. He said the government is, therefore, seeking the co-operation of all stakeholders to disseminate innovations that will make the sector competitive on the global market.

President Kufuor was speaking during a meeting with a five-member delegation from TechnoServe, an International Non-governmental Organisation, led by its Chairman, Mr Paul Tierney. TechnoServe, which has been operating in the country for the past 33 years, is mainly involved in agro-based entrepreneurial development in the rural areas where technical assistance is given to farmers to improve on their livelihood. President Kufuor said he is determined to use his tenure of office to lay a solid foundation to sustain the economic growth of the country "so that by the end of the first or the second term that I hope to serve, I can be proud of my achievements."

President Kufuor asked the organisation to collaborate with all the sector ministries that can play a role in fulfilling its development objectives. Mr Tierney who gave an overview of TechnoServe's activities globally, said the organisation attracts collaborators of international prominence to promote its activities. In Ghana TechnoServe enjoys the goodwill of the government as well as the world bank, private foundations and the United States Agency for International Development.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of TechnoServe, Mr Peter Reiling, said the farmers and other beneficiaries of TechnoServe are exposed to small and medium-scale development through technical and leadership training as well as access to funding.