Stephane Miezan, President of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), says the private sector is eager and prepared to work with the government to boost production and expand Ghana’s exports.

He said for this to happen effectively, there must be deeper engagement, shared goals, and mutual commitment between policymakers and the business community.

Mr Miezan was speaking at the launch of the 5th Chamber Business Awards on the theme: “Revitalising Ghana’s Development Agenda Through Strategic Public-Private Collaboration” in Accra.

He said the Chamber had chosen to use this year’s Business Awards as a platform not only to recognize excellence but also to champion the call for more structured and impactful public-private collaboration.

He said the Awards offered them the opportunity to celebrate Ghanaian businesses that excelled, adapted, and led in times of challenge but also a platform to reflect on the broader ecosystem that supported business growth.

The President said, “We see tremendous opportunities in areas such as value addition to agricultural produce, development of industrial infrastructure, digitalization, and entrepreneurship.”

He said Ghana’s economic potential had long been acknowledged yet remained underutilized due to structural bottlenecks in local production.

He said it was time to transition from promise to performance through a results-driven partnership between government and the private sector aimed at reducing production costs, incentivizing key industries, and supporting scalable enterprises.

“We must embrace an industrial transformation that positions Ghana as a manufacturing hub within the ECOWAS-ETLS and AfCFTA frameworks, while expanding our reach beyond the continent,” he said.

The President said in recent months, Ghana had recorded some notable improvements in macroeconomic performance.

“Indicators such as inflation, the exchange rate, the bank reference rate, and our reserve holdings have shown promising signs of recovery,” he added.

These developments, though commendable, must be viewed in the broader context of global economic uncertainty.

He said with slower global growth and shifts in international policy, particularly in the United States, the ability to remain resilient would depend on how the country position itself locally.

“This is why we believe now is the time to revitalise Ghana’s development agenda, with strategic collaboration between the public and private sectors at its foundation,” the President added.

Mr Prince Ackuaku, the Chairman of the Planning Committee, said the Awards was an initiative that had grown to become one of the most prestigious platforms for recognising business excellence, innovation, and impactful partnerships in Ghana.

He said, “This theme reflects a growing national consensus that Ghana’s aspirations for inclusive growth, job creation, industrialisation, and resilience cannot rest solely on the shoulders of the government.”

The Chairman said the Chamber recognised that beyond profits and balance sheets, businesses played a pivotal role in nation-building by creating jobs, developing human capital, driving innovation, and supporting social development.

“These awards are therefore not just about celebration; they are about setting benchmarks, encouraging competitiveness, and inspiring partnerships that uplift our collective destiny,” he added.

Mr Ackuaku said the Chamber Business Awards would focus on honouring businesses and institutions that demonstrated not only profitability but purpose, those that innovated in tough times, collaborated with government or civil society for impact, and kept faith with Ghana.

He expressed the hope that this year’s programme would catalyze new thinking in the way the private and public sectors engage.