Government has debunked the notion its policies are unfriendly and have been crippling local businesses, particularly at the ports.

This comes after several reports indicating that imports at Ghana's ports in recent times have declined.

A Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Michael Okyere Baafi, said government is putting up various measures in place to ensure the growth of local businesses across all sectors.

Speaking to Joy Business, he said government's stringent policies is geared towards boosting local businesses in the country

"Clearly, government’s intervention is to help businesses that originate in Ghana and for that matter to be able to grow these businesses to be an anchor businesses one day. That’s what we are doing now."

"What is happening at the port now, I’m sure it's because a lot of Ghanaians are now venturing into manufacturing and they are producing more here and so it has reduce the exportation of similar goods that would have been exported to town. Apart from that we have no intention to cripple businesses”, he said.

Mr. Baafi was optimistic government's One District, One Factory initiative is still on course.

He maintained that more offshore investors are still interested in investing in the country regardless of the current economic challenges.

"The initiative is still in shape, and however we know we are going through some hard times but investors are still willing to invest in Ghana”, he added.