Mr Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff, has called on the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) to deepen public-private partnerships as a critical pathway to accelerating economic growth and delivering the government’s development agenda.
He said government remained committed to working closely with captains of industry to translate policy priorities into practical, results-driven actions that would stimulate industrial expansion and job creation.
Mr Debrah made the remarks at the investiture ceremony of the newly elected AGI President and National Council members in Accra.
The oath of office was administered by Justice Dennis Dominic Adjei of the Supreme Court to the AGI President and the National Executive Committee.
He said flagship initiatives such as the 24-hour economy and the “Big Push” agenda were expected to reinvigorate the economy and lay the foundation for sustainable development, stressing that their success would depend largely on effective collaboration between government and the private sector.
The Chief of Staff encouraged the new AGI leadership to put forward concrete proposals and data-driven recommendations to inform policy decisions. Such collaboration, he noted, would help design smarter regulations, anticipate risks, and unlock private investment needed to propel the economy forward.
“Only a private sector-led industrial transformation, backed by mutual support from government, can create sustainable jobs and expand opportunities for our citizens,” Mr Debrah said.
He congratulated the incoming AGI leadership and commended the outgoing executives for their dedicated service and for laying a strong foundation for the association’s continued relevance in national development.
Mr Debrah underscored the need for Ghana to diversify its economy, deepen value addition, and enhance competitiveness in regional and global markets.
He said the country envisioned a private sector that was innovative, formalised, and export-oriented, supported by a public sector that was responsive, predictable, and accountable.
According to him, such an ecosystem would improve the business environment, streamline regulations, expand access to finance particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises and support investment in critical infrastructure, including energy, transport, and digital transformation.
He charged the new AGI leadership to support member companies to embrace technology, adopt international quality and environmental standards, invest in skills development, and build stronger linkages with local suppliers and communities.
In his acceptance remarks, the newly elected AGI President, Mr Kofi Nsiah-Poku, said the Association had, over the decades, served as a vital bridge between industry and government in championing sustainable industrial growth.
He pledged to strengthen AGI’s institutional capacity, sharpen its advocacy, and enhance its contribution to Ghana’s industrialisation agenda.
“We will continue to deepen stakeholder collaboration, strengthen support services, and position Ghanaian enterprises to fully benefit from regional and continental opportunities, including the African Continental Free Trade Area and the 24-hour economy agenda,” he said.
Mr Nsiah-Poku outlined plans to establish a permanent AGI Head Office as a legacy project, create a dedicated business support and market expansion function, and roll out a robust membership growth strategy.
The outgoing AGI President, Dr Humphrey Kwesi Ayim Darke, congratulated the new leadership and urged them to consolidate the gains made in promoting business competitiveness and private sector development.
He expressed confidence that the new team would build on the Association’s achievements and continue to advance the interests of Ghanaian industry in an evolving economic landscape.
