Economist and Policy Analyst, Dr. Samuel Afriyie has called on government to outline strategic plans to invest in the agriculture sector and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in its 2025 budget.
Dr. Afriyie explained that these areas have huge potential of turning the fortunes of Ghana’s economy but much attention has not been given to SMEs and Agriculture over the years.
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He said government has not been strategic enough in focusing on Agriculture sector and SMEs and rather providing short-term solutions.
“We have not been strategic enough in trying to focus most of our attention at the SMEs. The total share of businesses in Ghana, SMEs own 92%, the employment is almost about 80%, the share of SMEs in GDP is about 60% and we have more than 2 million SMEs in Ghana.
“We have not been strategic enough in focusing on certain areas that will have a multiply effect on our economy. All what we do is we tend to be on tactical basis solve immediate problem but not being strategic and that is the major cause of our leaders not trying to focus on some of these areas,” he said on TV3’s New Day, March 10.
He wants the 2025 budget which will be presented to Parliament on Tuesday, March 11 to provide tax incentives for people to invest in Agric, invest in value chain which he says will help resolve the food inflation in the country.
Touching on other sectors, Dr. Afryie said the budget should provide long-term solutions for the energy sector as well as how the cocoa industry needs to be turned around.
