What J H Mensah said at the Koforidua conference

The Partnership of Business and Politics

Before I close, let me address a special word to the leaders of the private sector of our economy. Our party has always looked up to the leadership of Ghanaian business not only to only to deliver the economic advancement to which we aspire for the people of Ghana, but also to take a fearless stand in working for the preservation and consolidation of the socio-political structure which operates to the interest of your businesses.

Sixty years ago, Paa Grant stood out boldly and put his personal fortune at the disposal of the nationalist movement. This was because he was convinced that political independence for our country would be good for Ghanaian citizens as well as Ghanaian businessmen.

The business community in today"s Ghana must equally put its money where its interests lie. I believe most of you would acknowledge that the maintenance of the liberal political and economic system which our tradition has espoused down the years has been in your best interest. Nobody will come from outside this country to sustain that system for your benefit and profit. And you the businessmen are better placed than the average citizen to help preserve and sustain this liberal system of liberal economics and politics.

Let us all then march forward together in unity to attain for our people another half century during which Ghana will lead Africa to catch up with the rest of the world in political freedom and economic prosperity. End