Accra, Jan. 12, - Dr Yaw Adu
Gyamfi, the President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), has pledged
to forge an extensive collaboration with government, policy makers and
regulators to ensure the effective implementation of government’s
industrialisation agenda.
Speaking at the investiture dinner
for the AGI President and national council members on Thursday night, Dr Gyamfi
said the Association would do its best to ensure the realisation of the’ One
District, One Factory’ industrialisation policy and urged government to give
the Association the chance to see the execution of the programme.
“It is my considered opinion that
this industrialisation programme along with a ‘Buy Made in West Africa
campaign’ is crucial for addressing the problem of unemployment, particularly
among the youth,” he said.
The investiture held on the
theme: “Effective Regional Integration for Industrial Development,” saw
representatives from trade associations in the West Africa sub-region in
attendance, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
Also in attendance was the
special guest of honour General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar, Former President
of Nigeria and Mr Traore Kalilou Ecowas Commissioner for Industry and Private
Sector Promotion.
Addressing the theme of Regional
integration, Dr Gyamfi said it was the only means to resolve the unemployment
problem in the West Africa sub-region, adding that the current slow pace of
co-operation was hurting all economies in the bloc.
He said there was the need for
all countries within the sub-region to work together to ensure the benefit of
investments and a common big market to facilitate exports.
“The whole region is likely to
continue to lose jobs to the tigers of Asia unless we learn to work together,”
he said, adding that there was the need to encourage governments to coordinate
industrial policies in the ECOWAS region.
Dr Gyamfi said AGI on its part
planned to work with other Manufacturer Associations in the sub-region,
especially Nigeria to promote investment, collaboration, training and trade for
the benefit of ECOWAS.
He said the AGI would continue to
engage stakeholders in its effort to help build the economy and called on
government to lend its full support by creating the enabling business
environment through the implementation of the 70 per cent local procurement,
enforcement of business regulations to prevent importation of sub-standard
products, among others.
In his keynote address, Dr Frank
Udemba Jacobs, President Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, called on
governments in the sub-region not to lose sight of the industrial development
agenda for which ECOWAS was set up.
He said there was also the need
for governments within the region to wield the necessary political will to
reject trade agreements, which would derail the foundation of industrial development
within the bloc.
There was also the need to fast
track common standards to ensure products were accepted in the markets of
others.
Dr. Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, the AGI
President, is Founder and President of the Danpong Group of Companies in Ghana.
He is the Group CEO for both Danadams Pharmaceuticals Industry (Ghana) Limited
and Danadams – Bakai Pharmaceutical Industry (Nigeria) Limited.
Until his election as president,
he was Vice President (large-scale) of the Association of Ghana Industries
(AGI), and he is 1st Vice President of the Ghana Employers Association (GEA).
He also serves as a Commissioner on the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission,
and is a former Board Chairman of the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company and
the Ghana Pharmacy Council.
Dr. Gyamfi holds a Doctorate
degree in Pharmacy from Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and is a
fellow of the West African College of Postgraduate Pharmacists. He has also completed an Executive MBA degree
at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). He
obtained two Bachelor of Science degrees in both Chemistry and Mathematics from
Clark-Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.
GNA
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