President Nana Akufo-Addo has emphasised that government’s mandate is to formulate policy and provide an enabling environment for the private sector rather than engage in activities that will create competition between the two.

“We should never put ourselves as competitors with the people in the private sector,” Mr Akufo-Addo emphasised on Friday, February 7 as he addressed the president of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, who had led a delegation from the House to pay a courtesy call on the president.

Mr Akufo-Addo continued: “We want to assure you and all chiefs in the country that to the extent that I have control over all those working with me, that is going to be the situation. There will be no situation where ministers or deputies or members of the executive are going to see themselves as competitors with the people in the private sector.”

He reiterated that the business of political leaders is to make “policy and define the rules which will enable the private sector to flourish and grow; we cannot be competitors”.

On his part, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State said the House was “reorganising to support you (Akufo-Addo) to resolve all chieftaincy conflicts to help unite our people”, adding: “We are mobilising all our chiefs to play a greater role in governance.

“There is no room for apathetic spectators” hence the need for “every Ghanaian to lend their support” to the development of the country, Mr Akuffo continued.

He stated that the task of developing the country cannot be accomplished by only a few, hence the need for greater collaboration between the presidency and the chieftaincy institution.

He applauded Mr Akufo-Addo’s “stance against corruption and [resolve] to fight it”. He singled out the asset declaration initiative by the president and the instruction to ministers to do same.

Togbe Afede XIV said: “Many of your (Akufo-Addo’s) actions and pronouncements since assumption of office are very reassuring; we commend you and assure you of our support.”

He noted that the House was “excited about your 1-dsitrict-1-factory [policy] and see it as an [avenue for] jobs for our people”.

He praised Akufo-Addo’s vision for the railway, aviation and transportation sector, adding that the “commitment to the development of inner cities and Zongos is laudable” for which “I cannot imagine what will become of the likes of Nima and Chorkor if we do nothing about them 40 years from now.”