Ghanaian businesses want the 2027 Budget to do more than preserve economic stability. They want protection against global shocks, relief from tax pressures and predictable policies that make investment, expansion and job creation less risky.
The Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA) says these safeguards are essential to keeping local enterprises competitive and sustaining the country’s economic recovery.
The Association’s President, Nana Dr Emmanuel Adu-Sarkodee Afriyie, made the call at the GEA’s 66th Annual General Meeting in Accra, where he acknowledged the government’s efforts to maintain macroeconomic stability but stressed the need for additional safeguards to protect businesses against external uncertainties.
He said geopolitical tensions and disruptions in global markets could expose Ghana to fresh economic shocks, making it necessary for the government to strengthen its fiscal position while creating a more supportive environment for local enterprises.
Dr Afriyie said comprehensive tax reforms and targeted incentives would be critical to reducing the cost of doing business, encouraging investment in productive assets and helping Ghanaian companies compete more effectively in domestic and international markets.
He also stressed that policy consistency was essential, particularly for businesses making long-term investments in technology, machinery and other productive equipment.
“Businesses also need policy predictability. Enterprises invest in new technology and machinery on the basis of expectations about the future,” the Association said in its address.
To address this concern, the GEA proposed a policy predictability compact between the government and the private sector to ensure meaningful consultation before major business-related policies are introduced.
According to Dr Afriyie, greater certainty in taxation, regulatory requirements, utility costs and administrative procedures would enable businesses to plan more effectively, manage operational risks and make long-term investment decisions.
The proposed compact, he said, would reduce uncertainty and strengthen cooperation between policymakers and businesses, helping to improve Ghana’s investment climate.
GEA Warns Industrial Disputes Could Undermine Investment
Beyond fiscal and tax reforms, Dr Afriyie warned that recurring labour agitations could disrupt business operations, reduce productivity and weaken investor confidence.
He urged the government, employers and organised labour to use the tripartite framework to resolve workplace disagreements through dialogue and good-faith negotiations.
“Industrial peace is an economic asset. Disagreements can be resolved through established institutions, dialogue and good-faith negotiations rather than long disruptions, because it doesn’t help labour and it doesn’t help employers,” the GEA said.
The Association maintained that industrial stability was important for protecting investments, sustaining production and allowing businesses to operate without costly interruptions.
Dr Afriyie also called for a national policy on human-centred automation and the future of work to guide businesses as they adopt emerging technologies.
The proposed policy, he said, should identify strategic occupations where human participation must be preserved while providing guidance on how technological change could be managed without undermining workers’ interests.
He said coordinated action by the government, employers and organised labour would help businesses adapt to technological developments while protecting jobs and maintaining economic stability.
Responding to the concerns, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Agribusiness, Ofosu Agyare, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting businesses through initiatives designed to improve access to opportunities and expand markets for Ghanaian enterprises.
