5Th Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition Launched.

Over 50 exhibitors and 150 people representing the Private Sector, Government Functionaries, Development Partners and international participants are expected to actively partake in the Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition (GISE'22)

The Summit and Exhibition, which will be held at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra from the 16th to 18th August, 2022, is under the theme "Investing in Ghanaian industries to leverage opportunities in the single African Market".

Performing the launch at the AGI Secretariat, the AGI President, 

Dr. Humphrey Ayim Darke, stated that, the idea behind the Ghana Industry Summit and Exhibition, which started 5years ago, is inline with AGI vision to create a supportive and competitive business climate. Adding that, the Summit has always been set around five objectives, to create an annual global platform for industries to share ideas.

The 5 objectives are: 

1.To promote innovation and technology, with the aim of enhancing industrialisation.

2. To established and encourage networking between indigenous industrialist and their international counterparts for knowledge sharing.

 3. To engage key government agencies in a constructive dialogue, in search of viable solutions to challenges facing industry.

4.  To endeavor to gather all sectors of the economy, to chat a common path towards industrial advancement.

5.  To create opportunities between sellers and buyers through match making programmes and exhibitions.

The AGI president stipulated that, the summit since its inception has made great inroads in shaping the economy, which output has informed programmes being designed by government.

The investment summit, as part of the event, shall create an ecosystem for equity investors to engage businesses in their bid create value, Dr. Ayim Darke, indicated. He further expressed investment prospects for companies in agribusiness and agro processing during the summit, as investment in these sectors have stagnated over the years, due to policy inconstancies. Adding that, the exhibition brings together an array of businesses spread across the entire sectors; from cosmetics, food & beverages, household items, health products, garments & textiles, electrical cables, hotel and hospitality, building, construction and property.                          Dr. Humphrey Ayim Darke lamented that, “Our businesses are in trying times.”

“The fast depreciation of the cedi, escalating fuel prices, rising fuel prices and public debt are of deep concerns to industries. Our strong recommendation is that in engaging the IMF, we must pay maximum attention to the industrial and agricultural sectors of our economy to hasten recovery.”

“Part of the reason for our economic crisis is the dependence on imported goods. We call for incentives to encourage local manufacturing to arrest this challenge”, the AGI President stressed.

Present at the media launch were representatives from various partner organisations, including Mr. Massimo Mina, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Ghana, Mr. Sean M Duggan, Investment Promotion Expert with the EU-GESP, Mrs. Bellona Vittor-Quao from the Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), Dr Ebenezer Tagoe, Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Finance at Fidelity Bank, Alex Agyei Amponsah, Director, Commercial & SME at Fidelity Bank, among others.

AGI DIALOGUES WITH PARLIAMENT

Scores of business people and industrialists, predominantly members of the Association of Ghana Industry (AGI) and it's top brass, On Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at the , actively and enthusiastically participated in the AGI dialogue session with the leadership of Parliament, to  deliberate on how the work of Parliament impacts on Industry, at the Accra International Conference Centre.

The high-profile event, sponsored by B5 Plus Group and Voltic Ghana Limited, was over subscribed. 

Under the theme"Promoting Ghana’s Industrial Development Agenda: the role of Parliament",

had in attendance the MP for Suame and Majority Leader of Parliament, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu. 

Also in attendance was MP for Ellembele and Ranking Member on the Trade, Industry and Tourism Committee of Parliament, 

Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, representing the Minority Leader of Parliament.

In his opining address, the AGI President, Dr. Humphrey Ayim Darke  indicated that, this meeting comes at a time that we all seek to find solutions to our the challenges that confronts us as a nation, such as the current exchange rate situation, fuel price hikes, external shocks of the Ukraine - Russia conflict that has created  quite a turbulent time for our industries and the economy, as the Central Bank is seen deploying monetary policy tools to contain an unyielding inflation.

Adding that, the Ghana Statistical Service have just released the producer price index for industry in the month June, at 38% from 33.3% in may this year. 

" This is quite alarming"

Dr. Ayim Darke stressed.

He pointed out that, the nature of parliament today offers a great opportunity for both Minority and Majority to build consensus and to work closer in enacting laws that will accelerate Ghana's industrial agenda, because the nation is at a crossroads.

The AGI president expressed regret that, events leading to the enactment and passage of the famous E-levy law, could have been managed to repose business confidence and steer our economy through the turbulent effect of the rating agencies, which remains a major threat to our economy.

He hinted that, AGI foresees

the IMF negotiations impacting on this year mid term budget and beyond. Indicating that, the long term solution to our economic quagmire, hinges on our collective ability to develop the competitive productive sectors, which will generate revenue and jobs.

Dr. Ayim Darke, further indicated the negotiations with the IMF must reflect support for local industry in its structural transformation.

He said, it is the humble request of the AGI, that the Minority and Majority avert their minds to adopt policies that will spur growth of local industry, promoting local content to enhance export market development in diversification to leverage on the Intercontinental free trade agreements.

The AGI President, underscored the need for the dialogue, explaining that due to the critical role of Parliament in advancing the country's development agenda, it is crucial for the institution to periodically engage with industry in order to appreciate their concerns. 

He assured the gathering that the dialogue session will be institutionalised as a key event on the calendar of activities for the AGI. 

In his presentation to the business community, the MP for Suame and Majority Leader of Parliament, 

Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu said, it is  important to appreciate the role of the private sector, as he provided the historical antecedents which had impacted positively and negatively on the sector.The Majority Leader, also outlined this government's policies that has created an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive; such as the 1D1F, the role of GIPC in facilitating investment and business growth. He hinted that  work is been done in parliament on the tax exemption bill.

Representing the Minority Leader, the MP for Ellembele and Ranking Member on the Trade, Industry and Tourism Committee of Parliament, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah

expressed the need for government to provide sustainable, and not cosmetic enabling environment to enhance real growth, productivity and transformation of the private sector.

Dr. Peter Quartey, Director of Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), praised the AGI for the initiative to engage Parliament, academia and research bodies. Adding that,

"there is a lot we can learn together"

The climax of the forum was the questioning and answering session which saw participant asking pertinent questions affecting business growth in Ghana and proposing solutions to our economic challenges.

Other dignitaries present at the dialogue included Dr. Tony Oteng-Gyasi, Past President of AGI and Founder, Tropical Cable and Conductor Ltd, , and Dr. James Asare-Adjei, Past President of AGI and Founder of Asadtek Group Ltd.

A book prescribing solutions to Africa's challenges launched.

Dozens of citizens from all walks of life witnessed the grand and colourful launch of a book written by Madam Beatrice Maku Ogah, an astute educationists and technocrat, at the Teachers Hall, Accra.

The book, titled - The Challenges Of Africa And Their Solutions, outlines a number of prevailing challenges hindering the progress of Africa and contains appropriate solutions to these challenges through effective role of technocrats as key change makers and drivers of the new African dream devoid of petty partizan politics, corruption and ethnocentrism.

Appropriately representing the Chairman for the occasion, Sir(Dr) Sam Jonah was Mr. Jonny Entsuah who eloquently and intelligently chaired the event to its expected end.

There were numerous speakers who reviewed the book and gave solidarity messages.

Notably among them was Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr. Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, and the Queen Mother of the Osudoku Traditional Area, Manye Ampnonsah Dokua lll.

"Food, clothing and shelter, if you want to rely on others for these, then you are not serious about making progress". Those were final words of Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang an academic and former Minister for Education, Representing former President  John Dramani Mahama as special guest,  as she declared the book duly launched.  

- Ghana News Service Online