The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in collaboration with BUSAC Fund, an advocacy group for for the private sector, has organised a media sensitisation workshop to educate journalists about the importance of the private sector.
Dr Affail Monnie, GJA President said the workshop was organised because journalists always focus on political issues which have made them turn a blind eye to other important developments in the country especially the private sector.
He said although journalists could do politics, they should make sure that, they have to do follow up on the authorities who make promises to the people and make them accountable to them.
“We become too obsessed with politics to the detriment of other vital issues, so there is the need for us to move from obsessive politics to the area of business which is tied to the survival of majority of Ghanaians,” he said.
Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Minister of Trade and Industries asked that each citizen of the country to do his or her best to develop the economy.
Dr Spio-Garbrah said if Ghanaians would purchase made in Ghana goods, and appreciate their own culture, then the nation would develop.
Mr Nicholas Jorgensen Gebara, Fund Manager of BUSAC Fund said the least the company could do for private organisations is to support them in a number of ways.
He said the private sector constitutes a higher percentage of development in many countries including Ghana, hence the need to support them.
Mr Gebara advised journalists to allocate space and time on their platforms to discuss issues that would draw the attention of the nation and investors to the impact the private sector is making on the economy.
Mr Wisdom Adongo, Project Officer of Private Enterprise Federation said although, both private and government sector have challenges, they work hand in hand.
“Therefore, we are looking forward to see the government play its role effectively and recognising the role of private sector in the nation’s development agenda,’ he said.
He urged the media to give a lot of space to private sector discussions to bring out critical issues that are better meant for private sector development.
Mr Adongo appealed to the government to recognise the critical role and responsibility of the private sector in national growth and implement favourable policies that would help develop the players.
He noted that the informal sector employs about 68.2 per cent of Ghanaians while the public sector employs only 6.2 per cent, therefore there is the need for the media to pay more attention to promotion of the private businesses.
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