Otumfuo Osei Tutu gave the reminder when the Board Members of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry paid a courtesy call on him at his Manhyia Palace in Kumasi. They were there to officially introduce the newly elected President of the Chamber, Nana Appiagyei Dankawoso, to the King.  The Asantehene spoke of the need to give priority to branding and packaging to increase their share of the market and profitability.

This, he indicated, was the way forward to create wealth and jobs for the population, to grow the national economy.  Otumfuo Osei Tutu said a vibrant private sector, was what the nation required to drive the economy - make it more robust and resilient.     He called for the government to continue to take deliberate steps and policy interventions to aid local businesses to thrive.

“If they are able to expand their operations and export more of their products, there undoubtedly would be more foreign exchange to keep the local currency stable.” The Asantehene encouraged entrepreneurs to put money into agriculture – the backbone of the economy, to add value to the raw materials.  He used the occasion to advice chiefs to make lands available to businesses for the implementation of the one-district one-factory policy.

They could use the land as equity, so that they would become shareholders, he added.

He praised the Chamber for the tremendous contribution it was making to the nation’s growth. Nana Dankawoso said many jobs could be created through the one-district one-factory agenda and he expressed their readiness to make it a success.