Stakeholders Advocate More Education On Advantages Of Public-Private Partnership

Public Private Partnership has been identified as the best way to bridge the yawning infrastructure gap in the country. 

It is also to complement government’s effort to create employment for the youth. 

Though government and the private sectors are doing their best to provide amenities and services, coming together under a PPP policy will be more viable. 

Panelists on GBC's Current Affairs Programme “Talking Point” made these observations when they discussed the topic 'Public Private Partnership'. 

Educating the public on the role of PPP, a capacity building Specialist at the Ghana Programme, Michael Awuah, said PPP is a long contractual relationship between government and the private sector aimed at creating new projects and managing them over a period of time. 

He explained that in such arrangements expertise, skills and funding are brought on board from both sides to address socio-economic needs. 

Citing the example of Ashanti Gold, Mr Awuah said since the coming on board of the private sector, the company has been able to double its income as well as acquire state of the art equipment for the execution of jobs. 

A Director at the Public Investment Division of the Ministry of Finance, Magdalene Apenteng said government is keen on engaging the private sector especially at this time when the country is experiencing rapid growth. 

She said even though some PPP interventions have not been successful, this does not mean all PPP policies do not merit value for money. 

Madam Apenteng said currently the Ministry is putting regulations in place to bar foreign companies from monopolising PPP projects. 

A Director at C-NERGY Global Organisation, Michael Cobblah, cited countries such as the UK, China, South Africa and Netherlands have grown their economics through PPP. 

He called for more education so that people will be abreast of the advantages of PPPs. 

This he said will help remove all misconceptions that people have about the policy. 

GBC