The former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate for the 2028 general election, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has pledged to make Ghana a business-friendly country to attract more investment if he is elected in the next presidential election.
He gave the assurance when he met with the Trade Advocacy Group, an association for traders, importers, and business people, for a “productive discussion” on their current challenges and the future of trade and business in Ghana as part of his policy dialogue series.
The discussion centered on trade and business policies that reduce the cost of doing business in Ghana.
The Association presented a range of concerns it believes are limiting the growth of businesses.
These included the cost of importing goods, demurrage charges at the ports, shop rents, taxes and difficulties in accessing credit.
The discussions explored possible policy responses to the challenges, with emphasis on creating conditions that would allow businesses to expand, generate more jobs and take advantage of opportunities within Ghana and the wider sub-region.
The issue of port-related costs has also featured prominently in recent concerns from importers.
Industry groups have warned that delays at Ghana’s ports are increasing cargo dwell time, storage and demurrage liabilities, while the government has announced measures aimed at reducing some demurrage costs arising from port delays.
Meeting with PAGE
Former Vice President Bawumia also met with the Federation of Association of Ghana Exporters (FAGE) to discuss issues facing exporters in Ghana.
Commenting on his Facebook Timeline after the meeting, Dr. Bawumia said was a rich diversity of exporters (both traditional and non-traditional exporters) who were represented.
“It is the fact that many of the economies that Ghana is trying to emulate, like the Asian Tigers, are export-driven economies, and the exporters in these countries were supported with various incentives.
“We discussed the various barriers that exporters are facing in Ghana and various policy solutions to address them.
“I am convinced that we need to provide our exporters more support in the areas of the regulatory environment, standards, trade house infrastructure in countries we export to, land acquisition and protection, access to credit and the exchange and payments regime.
“My thanks to FAGE for their attendance and very valuable proposals and ideas they shared with our team,” Dr. Bawumia added.
Discussions with Commercial Quarry Operators
The NPP flagbearer had also held a fruitful discussion with the Commercial Quarry Operators Association as part of the policy dialogue series.
They discussed how to strengthen the quarry industry, create more jobs, support economic growth and protect our environment.
“Building a stronger Ghana requires listening to the people who keep our key industries moving. Their experience and ideas will help shape practical policies that work,” Dr. Bawumia concluded.
By Kyei Boateng
