Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Tuesday urged African governments to produce a workforce that is
disciplined, honest, responsible, innovative and receptive to new ideas.
"As Ghana is going through its strategic priority of Human Resource development, it requires a workforce with such a profile which promises productivity and profitability."
This was contained in a speech read on his behalf at the 3rd Ghana-Africa Business Awards in Accra which was organized by Top Brass Ghana in collaboration with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Co-0peration and NEPAD under the theme" Accelerating Ghana's Economic Development through increased Intra-African Trade and Investment."
A total of 27 corporate institutions were honoured for their contribution to the increase in exports and the promotion of New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).The awards were given in the Gold, Silver and Bronze categories depending on the achievement of the company.
"Though not all the foregoing requirements are in place, corporate Africa ought to rise to the challenge of wealth creation even if the environment is not as perfect as they would want it to be," he said.
Vice President Mahama said this was essential since global trends now change so fast that no situation would ever be totally stable and perfect.
"With few exceptions, there is some amount of prejudice against individual wealth in Africa. Pervasive poverty and extremist ideology have combined to create a distrust of profit making entrepreneurs. But we need to learn to appreciate that entrepreneurs are people who take great
risks to make things happen. An entrepreneur makes profit only when other factors of production are satisfied," he said
The Vice President said there were important gaps in food supply that could be filled with enhanced intra-regional trade.
"This calls for more investment in modern large scale farming. Concerns in western markets, over excessive use of chemicals when addressed, can open up for well-packaged and branded fresh produce from Africa."
He said the rule of law and respect for human rights would gain more meaning to the average African if it was backed by access to social and economic public goods.
"Though Africa has major economic objectives and plans at the continental, regional and national levels, implementation would remain slow, if actors in the economic sectors do not become pro-active" He said.
Vice President Mahama said debt relief and better economic governance would generate the resources Africa needed to invest in basic infrastructure such as transportation, Communications, Energy and portable water.
"The NEPAD approach of shared financing of sub-regional infrastructure means economies of scale may be achieved where one country cannot deliver by itself. The West Africa Gas Pipeline is a good example of sound inter-country co-operation which would lead to immense market benefits for all the countries concerned," he said.
Nana Prah Agyensaim IV, Paramount Chief of Assin Owirenki Traditional area and President of Kushea Traditional Council, urged African businessmen and women who have similar cultural and spiritual origins to unite and work towards economic growth.