Government has announced its resolve to create 30 Business Resource Centres this year as part of its industrial transformation Agenda and its vision to spread industrialisation across the entire geographical regions of Ghana.
Business Resource Centres (BRC) are expected to provide a one-stop shop enterprise development services to enterprises located within a particular district. This means that companies would enjoy all the business support services available in Ghana through the BRC to be cited in the districts or municipalities without having to travel to Accra.
The announcement was made by the deputy minister for Trade and industry Mr Carlos Kinsley Ahenkorah, recently at the Commissioning of Voltic Ghana’s new packaging line at Akwadum near Nsawam in the Eastern Region.
Mr Ahenkorah stated, “In line with the Industrial transformation agenda, the desire of government is to equally spread industrialization across the entire geographical regions of Ghana. To be able to adequately respond effectively to the needs of the district enterprise irrespective of their location; Government will create Business Resources Centres (BRCs) in almost all the districts in Ghana. I am happy to inform you that thirty BRCs will be created this year.”
He explained that the BRCs services would include but not limited to acquisition of all business licences.
To be competitive, he said, local industries required assurance on availability and reliability of energy. Therefore, Government is working to reduce the cost of doing business and lowering production costs.
“The interventions to be implemented therefore include: Re-aligning the electricity tariff structure in support of industrial development;
Identifying and boosting the long-term generation of base load power at the lowest possible cost configuration; ensuring the necessary investment to upgrade, renew, and expand the power transmission and distribution network. This will modernize and improve efficiency of power generation and distribution and ultimately lower technical losses and costs,”
The minister admitted that, he very much agreed that government needed to do more to demonstrate its seriousness in creating the enabling environment leading to a transformation of industrial landscape that can create sustainable jobs for our teaming youth.
However, he said, “we live in a dynamic world now, and the changing trends makes it virtually impossible for government alone to create all the jobs on a sustainable basis. The role of the private sector has thus become crucial, considering the fact about 60% of our population is under 35 years old.”
He said their priority as Government is to put in place an ‘ambitious policy framework’ that will help businesses to expand and create jobs, as well as promote the growth of entrepreneurial opportunities for Ghanaians particularly the youth.
Governments over the years have recognized the role played by the private sector in spurring economic growth and development, and as such the private sector has often been referred to as “the engine of growth”. This is because, it is the private sector that drives growth, create jobs and pay the taxes that finance services and investment.
It is a known fact that in developing countries, the private sector generates more than 80 percent of jobs, funds 60 per cent of all investments and provides more than 80 per cent of government revenues. In contemporary times, it is the private companies that provide most essential services such as banking, telecommunications, health and education.
By Mohammed Suleman
