Otumfuo advocates more public-private-partnerships; tells govt to prioritize policies that foster growth

The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is advocating more public-private partnerships in the creation of industries.

For him, the time has come for the government to face realities and prioritize policies that will grow businesses.

The Asantehene said these while urging the government to privatize the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

In his view, privatizing them will make these institutions function as expected of them.

Speaking during the commissioning of a 430-kilometre natural gas pipeline by Genser Energy, in Kumasi on Wednesday, April 17, he said “It’s about time that the government realizes that it’s not going to work for the government to be involved in setting up companies without involving the private sector, it doesn’t work. The government should confront policies and involve the private sector and you can attract more investors into the country which will create more employment.

“VRA and others are all government establishments, let’s give it out and diversify them into the private sector and get more money there and get the right people to do it. GRIDCo and others let’s give them the money and get the qualified people, diverse government from it and let them work. Electricity Company is in a situation where we don’t know, but that also must be diversified and given to the private sector.

“Why are we still holding on when we don’t have the money? We’re not able to collect all the taxes we want, we’re going to IMF and all those for money. We’re hanging onto industries we cannot maintain and run.”

He added “It’s about time we face reality and decide on what government should be doing and what the private sector should be doing. This is a testimony of the private sector, and they were able to attract investors.”