The Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the German Development Corporation to promote local and regional economic development in the region.
The RCC is also building the capacities of public sector agencies in the region to be sensitive to the needs of the private sector.
Mr Ernest Yaw Kwarteng, Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Director, made this known at a meeting with the executive of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Kumasi.
The meeting was a follow up to the GJA's initiative to promote dialogue between metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies as well as RCCs to harmonise their relationships with businesses, especially the small scale ones and remove restrictions that hinder its growth and development.
The programme began in 2006 and is being sponsored by the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) fund. It aims at using the media to advocate for the removal of all forms of restrictions and bottlenecks that hamper business development and growth in the country.
Mr Kwarteng said the initiative is to promote micro and small scale enterprises in the region to enhance business.
He said the development and growth of the private sector would promote the well-being of the people economically, adding that, that was the ultimate objective of the Council.
Mr Akwasi Afriyie Badu, Chief Executive of KAB Governance Consult, facilitators of the programme, said the media as part of its mandate, needed to promote understanding among the various sectors to speed up socio-economic development of the nation.
He called on the media to strengthen business advocacy and education in the country.
Mr Bright Brewu, GJA General Secretary, said the media would not only serve as a watchdog, but would also contribute to business growth and development in the country.