Atebubu and Wenchi each to have
additional district
Nkoranza (Brong Ahafo)
He
was speaking during a courtesy call on Okatakyie Agyeman-Kudom 1V, Omanhene of Nkoranza Traditional Area at the weekend.
The
second district for Atebubu would have its capital at
Yeji while that of the Wenchi
District would be at Nsawkaw, the Deputy Minister
said. He warned against any wrangling over the citing of district capitals and
that the government would not waste the nation's resources in areas "where
there is no peace and understanding among the people."
Okatakyie Agyeman-Kudom appealed to the government to
create two constituencies for Nkoranza as the area is
large and called for proper demarcation of the lands of Nkoranza
and the Mos that was a source of problem for the two
traditional areas.
GRi…/
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Kwamena Bartels said information is not readily available, neither is there
reliable data on small, medium enterprises or the large informal sector.
Bartels was speaking in
He
said it was the desire of government to ensure that the Golden Age of Business
is ushered in with a meaning. Bartels said in this regard, the ministry is
working to remove the bottlenecks in, not only data acquisition but also the
total development of the private sector.
"The
vision involves the implementation of policies to strengthen and energize the
private sector as the main driver for economic growth, while at same time build
capacity ... to support the private sector." He said government, among
other things, has initiated a programme of mentoring the youth in tertiary
institutions with the introduction of the captains of industry programme.
"Under
the programme, successful business entrepreneurs across the country would be
invited to share and celebrate their lives with the young ones."
In
future, Bartels said government would at the enterprise level provide support
to the Young Investor's Programme, provide funding for young entrepreneurs at
the rate of three a year and facilitate the change in the curricula of tertiary
institutions to be private sector friendly and supportive.
On
the goals achieved by the ministry, the Minister said there had been a positive
inter face between the various stakeholders and the private sector. Bartels
said the ministry has also instituted bi-monthly meetings with the Governing
Council of the Private Enterprise Foundation leading to cabinet's approval of
the payment of the National Reconstruction Levy on half yearly basis instead of
on quarterly basis.
"This
is to enhance the liquidity position of the various enterprises." He said
the Ministry and PEF are currently working with the relevant sector ministries
on withholding tax, reclassification of non-traditional export commodities into
traditional exports.
He
said, yam, for instance would become a traditional export. Other areas being
discussed are the capitalisation of the Ghana Investment Fund, repatriation of
funds in the mining industries, treatment of bad debts and compliance with
ECOWAS trade liberalisation scheme by member states and the means of reducing
the cost of doing business in
GRi…/
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