Embassies have been urged to collaborate and establish Industrial Complex for further processing of agriculture produce by young SMEs to aid Ghana to bridge the technology gap in exporting to the European market before ending AID to Ghana as announced earlier this year by the president of the republic of Ghana, Nana Akuffo-Addo.
Prince Akwaaba, young founder of Akwaaba Cocoa Waste Management & Recycling company, producers of Akwaaba Cocoa Soap + Noni, largely agrees with the need to build a society which is less dependent on other foreign support however believes that the embassies collaborating to invite, establish and enhance technology applications for agro processing for the startup SME’s which are now largely run by the youth will position Ghana to be able to fund majority of her needs from domestic revenue sources and not rely on foreign support.
He made the remarks at a forum on, ‘Ghana beyond Aid, lessons from the private sector” organized by the Embassies of Denmark, Netherlands and Norway in collaboration with Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC).
“If we bridge the technology gap, we can substitute most of the imported products with Made in Ghana products depending on the geography, the entrepreneur and support involved. The DRIVE FOR AID must be a deliberate effort supported by executive FIATS and calculated strategies to regulate and favor Ghanaian businesses which the current Nana Akuffo led government is very committed to achieving through the 1 District, 1 Factory initiative”, he said.
Prince Akwaaba was of the view that the cost incurred in securing donor support could be translated into industrial complex interventions which will network all young SME’s to form clusters to process quality agro products for the local and international markets.
“For instance, we are being told that majority of vegetables and fruits exported the European market is substandard, we will need to correct the technology for the SME’s which will help stabilize the MACRO system and force multi nationals to join forces with SME’s to be able to compete with the international companies. WE ARE READY. We should be growing enough food, with a strong agro bank to also aid Europe donor partners in case they need such support, it is time to say THANK YOU”, he added.
He further appealed to the embassies to increase collaboration in trade and investment through strategic investor matchmaking and establishing realistic and strategic legacies which will go a long way in teaching us to fish rather than always be at the receiving end.
The guest speaker, Vice President, Dr. Bawumia, indicated that domestic revenue mobilization was the most sustainable way of growing the country’s economy if Ghana was to move beyond aid.
Dr. Bawumia reiterated government’s relentless efforts to attract investments and passion to grow the private sector to propel economic growth better the welfare of Ghanaians.
The event brought together majority of the embassies and their ambassadors, representatives from the international business community, private sector leaders, academia and entrepreneurs among others to deliberate on positioning Ghana to an enviable level among her peers.
The event was powered by Prompt Communications, Ghana, founded by ace young entrepreneur, Chris Koney.