Dr Yaw Adu Gyamfi, President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), who made the call, said support was possible if government prioritized policy interventions and stimulus support for Industry within the overarching framework of government's Industrial Transformation Agenda.

"With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement coming into force, I wish to make an appeal to government as a matter of urgency to help develop local production capacity. This will position Ghanaian industries to fully leverage the opportunities of the agreement, otherwise, Ghana runs the risk of being marginalized," he said.

The AGI Ghana Industry and Quality Awards was instituted to motivate industrialists to strive to perform better even in the face of economic difficulties. It rewards companies and industries in different areas of business performance.

Dr Gyamfi said industry would do well if the business environment improves, especially with the right policies and regulations.

"We are blessed as a country to have had the political stability all these years for business to thrive and to attract more FDIs. Investor confidence remains high, I believe, and we have a strong brand as a country to become the leading hub for business in our sub-region," he said.

The need for competitiveness is becoming increasingly crucial, he said, adding that in efforts to promote business, competiveness is what matters in today's global economy.

In addition to competitiveness, there is the need to empower local businesses through Government procurement based local content arrangements in all strategic sectors of the economy.

Such arrangements where contracts and procurements are executed by local business under local content policies would be very laudable.

On her part, the Chairperson for the AGI Awards, Mrs. Nora Bannerman-Abbott said the awards would honour companies that had achieved outstanding success in various fields of industry and innovation.

The key award categories would include Overall Best Company of the Year;

Best Corporate Social Responsibility Company; Best Company Employer of the Year; Young Enterprise Company (Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award); Fastest Growing Company of the Year; and Best Practices in Sustainable Manufacturing Company.

In addition to the top awards, all the industrial sectors under AGI would be awarded. The sectors are Agri-Business Company of the year, Automotive and transport, chemicals, electrical and electronics, energy and food.

The awards would be held on the theme: "Positioning Ghanaian Industries for Global Competitiveness."