Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Smith, has called on Ghanaians to avoid frustrating investors who decide to establish businesses in the country. In a discussion about the importance of fostering a welcoming environment for foreign direct investment, Ambassador Smith warned that corrupt practices, such as demanding kickbacks, deter investors and hinder the nation’s economic growth.
“I appeal to Ghanaians: don’t frustrate investors when we bring them in. Don’t ask for kickbacks before the business has even started,” he stated during an interview on Face to Face on Channel One TV on Tuesday, September 23.
Reflecting on his previous experience as a Regional Minister, Ambassador Smith shared a personal story about a Chief Director who pressured him to sign a document without properly reviewing it. “I have worked as a Regional Minister before. A Chief Director once approached me, trying to persuade me to sign a paper. I told him I hadn’t seen it, so I could not sign it. He insisted that he had reviewed it and believed it was fine, but I responded, ‘You cannot coerce me into signing it,’” he recounted.
He emphasized that while not all civil servants or politicians engage in such misconduct, the actions of a few could tarnish Ghana’s reputation as an investment destination. “These are some of the things civil servants do… they hide, and some of them do it. Not all of them, not all politicians. So Ghanaians in general, it is an appeal that please don’t do things that will take businesses from us,” he urged.
Source: Abigail Arthur
