AGI holds ninth Annual General meeting

Kumasi, Nov. 7, GNA- Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, on Tuesday said government had recognized the private sector as the engine of growth and would adopt pragmatic policies to make businesses in Ghana competitive.

She said consequently, government had initiated measures to reduce inflation and bank rates and to initiate long-term micro-financing schemes to support industrialists.

Madam Appiagyei was addressing the ninth Annual General Meeting of the Ashanti Region and Brong Ahafo branch of the Ghana Association of Industries (AGI) that was under the theme "Achieving Utilization Capacities and Promoting made in Ghana Goods," in Kumasi. She expressed regret that some people did not buy made in Ghana goods because of the perception that they were inferior and not durable. Madam Appiagyei appealed to Ghanaians to patronise goods produced in the country to promote local industries to enable them stand on their feet and compete on the international market. She urged the government and financial institutions to provide credit facilities to industrialists to enable them expand their operations to create more jobs and increase foreign exchange earnings for the country.

Nana Kwadwo Kwakye, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, said for the country to achieve middle income status in 2015, there was the need to promote and expand local industries in the country. He urged industrialists to take advantage of the enabling environment and produce goods for local consumption as well as for export.

Mr. Thomas W. Bello, Chairman of the AGI, in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo, said most of the small medium enterprises were producing below capacity due to the lack of adequate raw materials and capital resulting in low profits.

He noted that the economy would continue to be dependant on the products of advanced countries and called on Ghanaians to patronise their own products at all times.

During the open forum, the participants appealed to the government to provide them with adequate funds as well as waiving some of the taxes levied them to motivate them to venture into production.

Let us assist small-scale mining operators -Aryee

Takoradi, Nov. 07, GNA - Ms Joyce R. Aryee, Chief Executive Officer of Chamber of Mines has called for assistance to small-scale mining operators to sustain their operations.

She said they could be grouped and provided with the requisite water quality and environmental testing equipments, crushing machines and ore extractors for a fee on assigned plots of land. Ms. Aryee made the call when interacting with the media at Takoradi on Tuesday.

She said it was difficult for any small=3Dscale operator to undertake exploration but they could be assisted when they were allocated explored areas and monitored to ensure compliance. Ms Aryee stressed that reclamation of mined out areas were difficult but with little efforts mined out areas could be converted into fish ponds while other sustainable investments should be provided for the communities.

She regretted that siltation was destroying several water bodies in the country and efforts should be made to address the problem. 07 Nov. 07