Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah has called on the industrial sector to develop policies and strategies that would help boost the economy and make it more self-sufficient rather than relying mostly on imported goods.
Dr. Spio-Garbrah has observed that, the excessive appetite for imported goods by Ghanaians is a major contributor to the pressure on the cedi and ailing economy and in order to transform the country’s economic outlook, the consumption of locally made products ought to be given the highest priority by Ghanaians.
He added that, “Ghana has a great potential for exponential growth and prosperity, and the manufacturing sector must be supported to play a lead role in that effort; therefore it is imperative for manufacturers and service providers to aim at making products that offered a high value for money and quality services that can compete on the global market.”
Dr. Spio-Garbrah made these remarks in a keynote address at the 54th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) in Accra under the theme, “Promoting made-in-Ghana Products to accelerate Industrial and Economic development.”
The Chief Executive Officer of AGI, Mr. Seth Twum-Akwaboah in his welcome address said, the association stayed in the forefront of the fight to advocate crucial policy framework that impact the private sector although the association still faces numerous challenges.
He pledged that, “in the year ahead, AGI promises to work even more closely with its members to advocate crucial policy issues that impact the private sector.”