GIPA CEO challenges private sector to demand accountability from public institutions

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA), Simon Madjie, has challenged private sector players to demand greater accountability and efficiency from public institutions, saying businesses must play an active role in improving Ghana’s business environment.

According to him, businesses should not tolerate unnecessary bureaucratic delays, particularly when they have fulfilled all the requirements for services to be delivered within stipulated timelines.

Mr. Madjie made the remarks at the 15th Ghana Economic Forum, organised by the Business and Financial Times (B&FT) in Accra, under the theme: “From Stabilisation to Scale: Mobilising Capital, Technology and Policy for Ghana’s Next Industrial Wave.”

Mr. Madjie also urged companies to insist on timely service delivery and report public officials who failed to meet their obligations.

“If I have five days to register you and your documents are right, you must demand that I register you within five days. And if I don't do it, report it through the system and report it to the head,” he said.

He stressed that the private sector was a critical stakeholder in public sector reforms and must actively hold public institutions accountable to ensure efficient service delivery and create a more business-friendly environment.

Beyond institutional accountability, Mr. Madjie called for greater investor patience and access to long-term financing to support private sector growth, particularly in manufacturing and participation in global value chains.

He noted that Ghana's strong trading culture had created an appetite for quick returns, making it difficult for businesses that require substantial long-term investments to attract patient capital.

“Manufacturing and global value chains take time, so people must be patient,” he said.