Ghana's Envoy Advises African-Americans

Ambassador Alan Kyerematen, Ghana’s envoy to the US has called on African-Americans in the Diaspora to use their technologies and wealth to establish mutually beneficial projects and businesses in Africa.

Speaking at the 10th Annual Conference of the National Black Chamber of Commerce held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ambassador Kyerematen assured them of the continuous support for their reintegration with the entire continent of Africa and that they were not alone in the struggle in the US therefore they should not consider themselves as being the minority.

He said, quiet a number of African-Americans has been spending substantial amounts of money trying to trace their roots to certain countries in Africa and this he indicated was time consuming and a waste of resources.

Ambassador Kyerematen who was accompanied by his Trade and Investment Minister, Mr. Seth Evans Addo, advised that since Africa was their home, they could settle anywhere on the continent.

He explained that Ghana is one of the safest investment destinations that could be a home for African-American businesses and added that the country is politically and economically stable.

Ghana now enjoys a sound macro-economic framework characterized by a low and a declining rate of inflation, zero tolerance towards corruption, high level of human skills, low level of labor disputes and easy access to the West African market.

Ambassador Kyerematen also informed the Chamber that Ghana offers generous incentives including tax holidays and duty exemption of imported machinery and equipment to investors willing to do business in the country.

He explained the two presidential initiatives on Textiles and Garment and the production of cassava starch and added that other investment opportunities in Ghana included agro-processing, manufacturing, development of tourism infrastructure, real estate development, construction among others

He said the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has provided the framework and opportunities for increase in trade and investment flows between Sub-Saharan Africa and the US and added that Ghana’s eligibility under AGOA and a number of bilateral agreements with the US should enhance the comfort level of any American company that would want to do business with Ghana.