Accra

Vice-President John Atta Mills, today said the government is fully committed to the rapid industrialisation of the country. Government will therefore pursue policies that will ensure the full potentials of the private sector to enable it to act as the "true engine of industrial and economic growth." Professor Mills was delivering the keynote address at a national workshop on industrialization organized by the government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

The one-day workshop is to establish a National Platform for the Alliance for Africa's Industrialization (AAI) and set out an agenda for the forthcoming African Ministers of Trade conference to be held in Accra. The function also saw the inauguration of a 39-member National Industrial Development Council with Prof. Mills as Chairman. Dr Joseph Atta Addison, President, Association of Ghana Industries is Vice-Chairman with Dr John Abu, Minister of Trade and Industry, and Dr Kwabena Adjei, Minister of Food and Agriculture, as some of its members.

Prof Mills said the government and the private sector need to cooperate to ensure the speedy growth of the economy. "Government and the private sector are partners in development and we hope to function as such. "Let us rid ourselves of the erroneous impression that this government is anti-business and forge a new dynamic strategic alliance to become world class players in industry." Prof Mills said the private sector commands a lot of developed resources which government hopes to tap for the benefit of the nation. "Government will challenge and stimulate the private sector to continually improve the standards of its quality and performance. "Concurrently, government will encourage healthy competition among local firms so as to increase national innovativeness and productivity." Prof Mills said after emphasising the rebuilding of the social and industrial infrastructure, government is now focusing on the utilization of the tremendous natural and human resources of the nation. He called for a concerted effort from all for the full exploitation of the nation's potentials.

Prof Mills wondered how a non-tuna country such as Thailand could become a major tuna canning producing nation in the world while Ghana with an annual tuna catch of 34,000 tonnes is not. Dr John Abu, Minister of Trade and Industry, said the AAI launched last year in Cote d'Ivoire is aimed at enhancing Africa's competitiveness globally by forging a partnership between the private and public sectors. Initiated by UNIDO, AAI shows the commitment of that organization to the industrial development of Africa, which Dr Abu said is a continent that is lagging behind in all aspects of industrialization. He asked that policies to be adopted under AAI should fall within the government's Vision 2020 programme on industrialization and that of the West African region to make for uniformity in implementation.

Mr Kwabena Darko, Executive Chairman of Darko Farms and Second Vice-President of the AGI, said the private sector should be involved in fashioning out policies that affect it. He said most times the sector is brought in after decisions have been taken and this makes it difficult for it to fit in. "The private sector is always prepared to move ahead but it is hindered by the public sector. There should be a new initiative that will involve a frank and transparent exchange of ideas between the two sides. Government must sit and plan with the private sector. "If we have to compete on the world market, we need to have businessmen of international calibre... and government can and should help to create trans-national businessmen who will compete on the world market." Mr Darko said both government and private sector should put the past behind them and create a fresh atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. "Government cannot develop alone, neither can the private sector do it alone. We need to cooperate," he said.