Business News of Friday, 2 May 2003

Source: GNA

Govt to review anti-business laws

Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Private Sector Development, on Wednesday said government will review all anti-business laws that impede the efficiency of the private sector to create a congenial environment for business to thrive.

He said "the Golden Age of Business" is not meant to be the era where people succeed because they are given monopolies which allow them to take undue advantage of competition.

In a speech read on his behalf at the regional conference of the Ghana Electrical Contractors Association, Mr Bartels said the government will put in place a level field, where all companies can exploit the numerous opportunities for wealth creation.

He urged the Electrical Contractors to acknowledge the importance of electricity to industrialisation and to form joint-ventureship to strengthen their capital base and to win bigger contracts.

"There is no doubt that without entrepreneurs working to bear risks, our dream of achieving a Golden Age of Business will be elusive," he added.

Mr Bartels urged them to establish a formidable association to enable them to benefit from programmes initiated by government.

Sheik I.C. Quaye, Greater Accra Regional Minister, asked members of the association to enhance their work by delivering efficient services to consumers.

He advised them to set up a system to ensure effective monitoring of electrical installations to avoid the recurrent of hitches, which destroyed life and property.

The minister said, in view of the changes in technological trends, there is the need for the members to upgrade their skills to meet the realities of the time.

Mr Samuel Quansah, National President of the association, said their primary aim is to monitor all electrical installations in the country to avoid rampant fire outbreaks.

He said in line with this, the association has notified the Electricity Company of Ghana and had been authorised accordingly to fish out all illegal connections in the system.

Mr Quansah appealed to government to ensure rapid review of the existing contract documents to make it possible for the licensed contractors to win projects.