African Americans pledge to assist Ghana

From: Beatrice Akua Asamani, GNA Special Correspondent, Atlanta, US

Atlanta (US), Sept. 26, GNA- Chairman of Goodworks International Andrew Young, pledging his commitment to attract investors to Ghana, on Saturday, urged fellow African Americans to make the progress of the country their own.


"Ghana's brilliance was recognized long ago when Dr. W.E.B. Dubois chose Ghana as his home of retirement and today we see the potential of Ghana through Mr Kofi Annan," he said, after receiving an award from Asantehene Osei Tutu II, at a dinner held to raise funds to support the King's Education Fund.


Mr Young, with 102-year-old impresario from Philadelphia, Mr Sam L. Evans and media super star Oprah Winfrey, were honoured for their humanitarian activities at the Omni Hotel dinner, attended by more than 600 people, including Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama.


Commenting on the glamorous African clothing worn by some of the women, Mr Young, America's former Ambassador to the United Nations, said he would help to popularise the clothes to make African American women to 'also look good.'


"Let this be the beginning of a long association to make Ghana's growth and success our own and carry on with the dream of the late Dr Leon H. Sullivan, who initiated the African-American Summits," said Mr Young, who wore a kente vest, which he said he had worn for 10 years to important engagements and was often admired.

Ghana is a good source of efficacious traditional herbal medicine, he said, and advised America to make use of the products, especially the phyto-riker (GIHOC) herbal products.


The renowned African American urged the Government of Ghana to work towards a direct flight from Accra to Atlanta, adding, "we will fill it everyday."


Mr Evans also stressed the need for African Americans to support Africa, saying the marriage between us should be consummated. Vice President Mahama assured potential investors of the security and prosperity of their investments.


He said: "Ghana is an English-speaking democratic state with hardworking people where the rule of law is respected and where people can go about their businesses freely.


"We pride ourselves as one of the few countries where investors can get maximum returns on labour because we work from the premise that it is a healthy and literate population which will propel us to achieve our goals as a nation."

The regulatory framework for investment is one of the most flexible in the world and facilities at the entry and exit ports have been modernized to ensure that imports and exports move speedily without unnecessary delays.


Vice President Mahama, therefore, encouraged them to seek opportunities in agro-processing, mining, manufacturing, tourism, real estate and other areas where untapped resources abound plentiful.


Mr Young received a 22-carat gold cufflinks with the symbol of Ashanti, the porcupine, which demonstrates resilience, on them. Both Mr Evans and Oprah Winfrey, whose award was received on her behalf, received a 22-carrat gold brooch each with the same symbol.


The dinner formed part of "Ghana Expo 2004", a trade, investment and cultural exposition, which aims at showing Ghana's potential to the American market to attract investments.