AGI Presents SME Charter To President
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) will this week present a charter on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to President John Evans Atta Mills.
The President is expected to take action on the document prepared by the AGI through the gathering of inputs from business leaders in all regions of the country towards the creation of a favourable business environment.
, President of AGI, who announced this in Accra on Thursday, explained that the charter, which details policy proposals, would outline roles and responsibilities of government agencies, non-governmental organisations, private sector and development partners towards the transformation of SMEs.
He was speaking at an international experts' forum that was organised under the theme: “Towards a more conducive business environment for SMEs in Ghana.”
Mr. Oteng-Gyasi said the adoption of such document would assist SMEs, which are the backbone of the country's economy to stimulate growth and create employment for the youth.
He said the preparation of the draft was long overdue and urged the participants to expedite action on the document so “it could be presented to President Mills.”
“We should in the next 72 hours present the charter to the President John Evans Atta Mills,” he noted.
Mr. Oteng-Gyasi revealed that even though SMEs remained the driving force of the country's economy, they had not received the needed attention, adding that the situation had brought many constraints to the sector.
He said, “Despite the existence of many SMEs in the country, only a few of them are thriving.”
He expressed the hope that government would give the Charter the needed attention and implement its recommendations to ensure a better business environment in the country.
Professor Christian Hauser of the University of Chur, Switzerland, who made a presentation on the experiences of the SMEs in the European Union countries, called for strict adherence to laws that would improve the sector in Ghana.
President John Evans Atta Mills, who was then the Presidential candidate of NDC in the 2008 elections, signed an agreement with the AGI last year to implement proposals contained in the agenda of SMEs. Source: GNA