Chamber of Commerce to focus on development of agric sector
The President of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Nana Dr Appiagyei Dankawoso I, has expressed the resolve of the chamber to fast-track the economic development of the country with a special focus on the agricultured sector.
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Toward that end, he has announced plans of engaging with the government towards the development of a reduced interest rate regime on loans for farmers.
He said the current conditions under which farmers borrowed from banks for their commercial activities were negatively impacting on the profitability of their businesses as well as the attainment of food security.
Paradigm shift
“There is the need for a paradigm shift if we really want to ensure food security and accelerated economic development,” he added.
Nana Dankawoso I said this when he commissioned the council and the Central Executive Committee of the chamber in Accra yesterday.
He said the chamber was focused on ensuring “the geometric kind of economic growth” and for that to happen, there was the need to “change the gear” for the chamber to play the leading role in galvanising the private sector for accelerated growth.
The vision of the chamber, he said, was to change the fortunes of Ghanaian businesses through advocacy and added that it was the duty of the government to ensure that a congenial atmosphere was created for businesses to thrive.
Nana Dankawoso I said as part of a five-year strategic plan aimed at placing the chamber at par with the best in the world, a fitting modern office complex was to be constructed in addition to the establishment of a training school to impart entrepreneurial knowledge to students and those ready to do business.
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Strategic plan
He also intimated that as part of efforts to reward excellence in the industry, the chamber would from this year institute an annual award scheme for its members.
As part of the five-year strategic plan, he said, a special project would be undertaken that would build the capacity of small and medium-scale enterprises to enable them to take advantage of the opportunities that abound at the international level.
“We also want to empower our businesswomen because population-wise, women are more but when it comes to business operations, our women lack the required leverage,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer of the GNCCI, Mr Mark Badu Aboagye, said the current executive of the chamber was sworn into office on January 13, 2016 for a two-year term.
He said the council was the highest decision-making body of the chamber while the Central Executive Committee would oversee its day-to-day administration.