The President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr Tony Oteng Gyasi, has urged government to play a more proactive role in helping and supporting the private sector.

He said creation of enabling environment alone was not enough to accelerate growth.

Speaking at the launch of the 50th anniversary celebrations of AGI, Mr Oteng-Gyasi said the government's refusal to participate in business under the guise of only creating the environment was hurting industries, economic development and employment opportunities.

He said it was time government shied away from the current passive stance and intervened in the market to prop up the private sector if the need arose.

"It is time government gets actively involved in shaping the private sector to move forward," Mr Oteng-Gyasi said.

He added that the private sector would only be able to take advantage of opportunities being offered when government assisted them to become competitive to break into the global market.

Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, said government had in the past few years given tremendous support to industries through reduction in interest rates, improved economic climate to make planning possible and avenues to make capital available.

Despite these efforts access to credit, land tenure, obsolete equipment and weak financial management still remain the bane of industries.

Source: GNA