Don’t use cumbersome processes to frustrate private sector investment – Rev. Nana Sarpong

For the private sector of the economy to actively live up to its tag as the much-touted engine of growth, it is imperative that government appointees and all those placed in responsible positions in the public sector and the banks accord it the due recognition and support, Rev. Nana Dwomoh Sarpong, an industrialist, has emphasised.

He noted that though it was generally acknowledged that the private sector had the capacity to ease the country’s ever-rising un­employment problem and power economic growth, it had not been given the much-needed attention.

Speaking to journalists, the Ac­cra-based industrialist, expressed dissatisfaction with the nonchalant attitude often exhibited by some public officials who use cumber­some bureaucratic processes to frustrate private sector players in business transactions.

He observed that instead of discharging their duties as humble public servants, most of these self-opinionated officials behave as “tin-gods who seem indis­pensable and must be obeyed or worshipped.”

Identifying some of the ills of public officials placed in respon­sible positions as indiscretion, lateness, and absenteeism, Rev. Dwomoh Sarpong claimed that “they go to work as and when they like. They are not punctual when it comes to business ap­pointments.”

The industrialist also underlined efficient time management as a key factor of production and the need for public officials to take it seriously “because every minute or hour wasted comes with a cost to both the government and private sector player.”

“It must be amply drummed home to all government officials, notably Chief Executive Officers and other high and middle-level public officers, that they are paid with the taxpayers’ money to serve but not to lord it over the people and must, therefore pursue policies, programmes, and services that would inure to the collective benefit of the state and not their parochial interests,” the industrial­ist declared.

Maintaining that nation-building is the collective responsibility of the citizenry and not the preserve of only the government and its appointees and civil servants, he urged all sections of society to renew their commitment and dedication to hard work and patriotism as the most depend­able means of driving home the national development agenda.

“Let’s shed off the wrong attitudes, misuse of resources, and adorn the garb of honesty and positivity,” the industrialist added.

Moreover, Rev. Dwomoh Sarpong also an environmentalist and philanthropist, called for an effective decentralisation system to facilitate business transactions in the country.

He further emphasised that public and civil servants should not serve as a barrier between elected government officials and business leaders as well as the general public.

“In some countries the pres­idents are so business develop­ment-oriented that they con­sciously schedule meetings to listen to and address the concerns of business leaders, which help to address unnecessary bottlenecks,” the industrialist indicated.

 BY TIMES REPORTER

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