(Evening News) -- The Government has made it clear that it will not tolerate nor encourage the use of political party cards in doing business in the country. It pointed out, that the era in which political party cards were used to transact business in the country was over.

The Senior Minister, Mr J.H. Mensah, made these remarks at the opening of a national workshop to define the policy direction and strategies to usher in the Golden Age of Business and development of the private sector at Elmina. President John Kufuor officially opened the four-day workshop, which was attended by leaders in the private sector and stakeholders in the public sector.

Mr Mensah said that the government will not discriminate against anyone who is prepared to invest in the country to enhance development. “Whether you are an NPP or NDC member, local or foreign investor, we are prepared to work with you to promote the economic growth of the country.”

“There will no longer be the use of political party card to do business in the party era,” he stressed. The Senior Minister however stated that the government will deal with only honest and loyal investors in the country.

He explained that the government has the responsibility not only to promote business but to ensure that it strives to enhance the development of the country. Mr Mensah said that the government had mapped out effective strategies to promote private sector growth.

He gave the assurance that the government is more determined to use both legal and constitutional means to acquire lands for investors and also to ensure that practices that impede private sector growth were removed.

The Senior Minister called for a special partnership between the government and the private sector to make the Golden Age of business a reality. The Minister of Private Sector Development Mr Kwamena Bartels, stressed that need for government policies to include the views of the private sector to promote business and enhance economic growth of the country.