Business leader Sir Sam Jonah has raised deep concerns about Ghana’s heavy dependence on imported goods, describing it as a major barrier to national growth and self-reliance.
In an interview with Bola Ray, the respected statesman said Ghana’s import culture reflects a worrying lack of national pride and initiative in supporting local production.
“Go to a state dinner,” Sir Jonah remarked. “Everything you see — from the furniture and tissue paper to toothpicks — is imported. And we are not even ashamed of it.”
He stressed that it was unacceptable for a country as resourceful as Ghana to continue importing items that could easily be produced locally.
Sir Jonah cited food imports as a particularly troubling example, noting that a significant portion of Ghana’s tilapia and chicken are brought in from China, the United States, and Europe.
“A country that loves tilapia imports over 60 percent of it,” he lamented. “The same goes for poultry. It must worry all of us.”
According to him, Ghana’s dependence on foreign goods undermines its economic independence and limits opportunities for local industries to thrive.
He called on government leaders to demonstrate commitment by prioritizing local production, entrepreneurship, and industrialization.
“Leadership sets the tone and creates the environment,” he said. “When the right policies and incentives are in place, Ghanaians will excel — we are a capable and talented people.”
Drawing lessons from Singapore and South Korea, Sir Jonah emphasized that transformation is possible when a nation’s leadership fosters a clear vision and holds itself accountable to it.
“We can achieve the same progress if we take ownership of our future instead of depending on others,” he concluded.
About Sir Sam Jonah
Sir Sam Jonah is a Ghanaian businessman and statesman, known for his leadership in the mining industry and his advocacy for economic reform, good governance, and industrial development across Africa.
Source: mynewsgh
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