Speaking to members of the West Africa Business Association (WABA) in Accra, he said it is ironic that when foreign firms win bids to engage in consultancy services they "invariably give the job to Ghanaians to do it."

Dr Apraku said that was a clear indication that African experts can do the job as well as their foreign counterparts but they just needed to be bold enough to get the contracts. He said one reason why local experts and businessmen refuse to match their foreign counterparts "foot to foot" is as a result of sophisticated modern technology.

Dr Apraku advised local experts to move away from that notion and "come together as a team to fight your common enemy - technology."

He said the private sector within the sub-region must be given more opportunities to operate to ensure economic growth and development. The decision to integrate the continent as well as ensure trade liberalization would remain a mirage if business communities do not forge partnership.

Dr Apraku said Africa and West Africa in particular have come to a turning point because the populace and governments have developed a great deal of consciousness. He said the elections in Liberia demonstrated clearly that people have moved away from the era of taking power through the barrel of gun to allowing people to make legitimate choices through the ballot box.

The government of Ghana, he disclosed, is making everything possible for the business community to operate in a free and conducive environment.

"I am proud to say Ghana is the first to harmonise taxes to enable us engage in international trade and move goods across borders. We are removing artificial borders to strengthen the economic sector. We need to pull each other forward and move in tandem," he said.

Dr Apraku condemned the abuse of freedom of movement of goods within the sub-region because "it undermines the integration process and creates animosity among countries."

The Chairman of WABA, Mr Martin Eson-Benjamin, said WABA networks with its sister organizations outside to promote business and trade opportunities in the sub-region. WABA, he explained "creates the platform for its members to share ideas with policy makers among others."