Founder of the All People's Congress (APC), Dr. Hassan Ayariga, has urged Ghana to safeguard its strategic national assets while prioritizing local ownership in foreign investment partnerships. In a statement commemorating the legacy of Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. Ayariga noted that true national leadership is defined by creating lasting opportunities for others and leaving behind strong, sustainable institutions. He emphasized the need for Ghanaian ownership and resource stewardship in development partnerships.
Reflecting on the spirit of Founder's Day, Dr. Ayariga celebrated the vision, sacrifice, and determination required to build institutions that serve society and drive generational growth. He addressed young entrepreneurs, business leaders, and innovators across Africa, urging them to pursue their visions with discipline, integrity, and faith despite inevitable setbacks. Dr. Ayariga emphasized the importance of building businesses capable of outliving their founders and creating lasting opportunities for others.
Dr. Ayariga cautioned against entering Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) that compromise Ghana's long-term interests or hand over vital national assets to foreign control. While acknowledging that foreign direct investment provides key capital, technology, and job creation, he stressed that genuine national freedom must be backed by economic ownership and resource stewardship. He warned against giving away Ghana's businesses, strategic economic assets, natural resources, lands, and properties to foreign investors in the name of PPPs.
To ensure Ghana remains open for business while securing its sovereignty, Dr. Ayariga outlined key structural reforms for future trade and investment frameworks. He demanded that all major PPP agreements and transactions involving strategic national assets be made fully transparent and subjected to strict parliamentary and public scrutiny. This, he believes, will help prevent the compromise of national interests and ensure that Ghana's future is not given away.
Dr. Ayariga stressed that policy directives must mandate meaningful Ghanaian participation to ensure a fair share of economic value remains within the country. He also emphasized the need for enforceable terms for measurable job creation, skill enhancement, and technology transfer. This, he believes, will help strengthen local businesses and enable them to actively compete and grow as major partners in development.
Dr. Ayariga reiterated that while Ghana welcomes mutually beneficial global partnerships, national policy must firmly ensure that Ghana's future is not compromised. He emphasized the need for national policy to prioritize local ownership and strategic asset protection, ensuring that Ghana's sovereignty is maintained. This, he believes, is crucial for the country's long-term growth and development.
Ultimately, Dr. Ayariga's statement highlights the need for Ghana to balance its development needs with the imperative of protecting its strategic national assets and prioritizing local ownership. His call for transparency, accountability, and policy reform is expected to contribute to the ongoing debate on Ghana's development partnerships and the role of foreign investment in the country's economy.
Key points
- Dr. Hassan Ayariga emphasizes the need for Ghana to prioritize local ownership and strategic asset protection in foreign investment partnerships.
- He cautions against entering PPPs that compromise Ghana's long-term interests or hand over vital national assets to foreign control.
- Dr. Ayariga demands that all major PPP agreements and transactions involving strategic national assets be made fully transparent and subjected to strict parliamentary and public scrutiny.
