By Ebi Kesiena
Former President John Mahama has insisted that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government has failed the private sector and Ghanaians in general.
According to Mr. Mahama, the dire state of the country’s economy has created an unfavourable environment for businesses and industries.
Speaking at the 7th Ghana CEO Summit held in Accra on Monday, the newly-elected flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress accused the government of eroding the gains made by his administration.
“The complaints I hear from businesses here and there are the lack of access to credit, high inflation, high taxes, high import and export duties and levies, high handed regulatory environment, depreciating local currency, harassment by the GRA, deteriorating infrastructure among others.”
He stressed that the governing NPP has failed to play its part when it comes to government’s partnership with the private sector.
“Your duty is to run your business profitably and create opportunities for employment in Ghana. Our duty as political leaders is to create a conducive, predictable environment and a level platform for your businesses to thrive. Unfortunately, all the indexes show that the government is not keeping to its part of the bargain as inflation rises. Unemployment has worsened to historic proportions, and statistics from the various sectors are neither uplifting nor comforting.”
However, Mahama urged government to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive by being apolitical in its dealings with business owners.
