The Minority in Parliament is pushing for a legal framework that will compel government to consult businesses before introducing major economic policies, warning that the current approach is hurting investment and job creation.
Speaking at the Kwahu Business Forum 2026, Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, said repeated engagements with key business groups reveal a troubling pattern of exclusion from decision-making.
He delivered the remarks on behalf of Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
“Policy is conceived, drafted and announced, and industry is invited to a meeting afterwards and told that constitutes consultation,” he said.
According to him, the Minority Caucus has recently held discussions with the Ghana Union of Traders Association, the Ghana Employers’ Association, and the Association of Ghana Industries, all of whom expressed concern about being sidelined in policy processes.
He described the situation as more than a procedural lapse, warning that it has direct economic consequences.
“Effective pre-legislative consultation is a structural requirement of sound economic governance, and its persistent absence is not a minor failing,” he said.
“It is a policy failure with real costs, measured in factories that are uncompetitive, investments that are not made, and jobs that do not exist.”
To address the issue, the Minority says it will advocate for a statutory pre-legislative consultation framework that makes stakeholder engagement mandatory before any major economic bill or policy is introduced.
The caucus believes such a move will improve policy outcomes and restore confidence among investors and local businesses.
Businesses, he noted, need clarity and predictability to plan effectively.
“They need a legislative framework that is clear and predictable. They need an economic direction that reflects the realities on the ground,” he said.
The Minority also signalled plans to demand a full assessment of the cumulative impact of taxes and levies on businesses before new fiscal measures are rolled out.
It is also calling for structured, quarterly engagements between Parliament and organised business groups to ensure concerns are tracked and addressed.
Ahmed Shaib urged both government and the private sector to prioritise honest engagement as a starting point for reform.
“That partnership must begin with honest engagement, with industry and with Parliament, on the real conditions businesses face on the ground,” he said.
The Minority maintains that without deliberate efforts to include stakeholders in policymaking, Ghana’s goal of building a resilient private sector will remain out of reach.
Source: metrotvonline.com
