Kumasi, 14th Aug 1999 - Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister, has stressed the need to expand the base of the country's information machinery as Ghana becomes the gateway to the West Africa sub-region. He said information should be well packaged and marketed both internally and in the outside world.
Mr Yankah was launching the Ashanti Region Website and Video documentary at the City Hotel in Kumasi. Present were District Chief Executives, Chiefs, members of the Kumasi Business Club and Heads of Department.
The Regional Minister noted that Ghana has no alternative to joining the global information society, adding, "it is an obligation, if we want to attain our objectives in Vision 2020, to be on the information super highway". Mr Yankah explained that the Video Documentary provides data on Ashanti for people to understand and appreciate the culture and tourism potentials of the region. He said it would be distributed to Ghana's foreign missions, tourism organisations, travel societies, libraries and educational institutions. The film would also be made available to the Ghana Airways to be shown on its flights.
He said the Website would become the official Internet Gateway to Ashanti, and that information on it would be updated periodically. Nana Ofori Agyeman II, Adansihene, who represented the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, said it is time the outside world knew of the rich resources of Ashanti.
The 13-minute documentary depicts the culture, heritage, traditions and resources of the region. The 120-page coloured Website captures the trade and investment opportunities in mining, agriculture, industry and tourism in the region. The first copy of the documentary autographed by Mr Yankah was auctioned for 1.5 million cedis.
