President John Dramani Mahama has raised concerns about political victimization in Ghana’s private sector, describing it as a major setback to business growth and economic stability. Speaking at the Kwahu Business Forum, President Mahama noted that frequent changes in government often expose businesses to unfair treatment based on perceived political affiliations.
He stressed that such practices discourage entrepreneurship and weaken investor confidence, insisting that companies should not suffer simply because they are linked to a particular political party.
“Ghana is a democratic country, and every eight years there is likely to be a change in government. If businesses are seen to be aligned with one party, victimization begins. It is something we should not encourage,” he stated.
President Mahama emphasized that his administration does not assign “political colours” when engaging the private sector, adding that competence and capacity must remain the only criteria for awarding contracts.
Touching on his government’s flagship infrastructure initiative, the “Big Push” program, the president described it as a transformative intervention aimed at stimulating economic growth, particularly through massive investment in the road sector.
According to him, the program represents the largest investment in road infrastructure in Ghana’s history, with over 2,000 kilometers of roads under construction simultaneously.
He explained that investments in construction have a ripple effect across multiple sectors of the economy, creating jobs and boosting demand for goods and services.
“The construction companies buy cement, which supports cement factories. They buy iron rods, benefiting distributors; buy fuel, which supports fuel stations; and they service machines, creating jobs for mechanics,” he outlined.
President Mahama revealed that criticisms have emerged over the allocation of contracts under the program, particularly claims that projects are being awarded to contractors affiliated with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).
However, he dismissed such concerns, arguing that capacity and efficiency should take precedence over political considerations.
“They have the capacity. They have the equipment. They employ Ghanaians. They don’t employ Togolese or people from some other country. And so why not? Anybody who has the capacity to be able to move the project should be given it. Because for me, it’s not about who does the project. For me, the credit is that at the end of my term of office, I was able to repair all those roads, no matter who did it,” he said.
He further encouraged businesses to reduce overreliance on government contracts, urging the private sector to build resilience and independence. President Mahama called for a fair and transparent regulatory environment where all businesses have equal access to opportunities and can earn returns on their investments.
He noted that a thriving private sector would lead to reinvestment, business expansion, and overall economic growth, ultimately contributing to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
