Government to embark on urban renewal programme

From George Ramsey Benamba, GNA Special Correspondent, New Delhi, India

New Delhi, March 15, GNA- Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Sunday reiterated government's commitment to embark on an Urban Renewal Programme as captured in the 2008 Manifesto of the ruling National Democratic Congres= s (NDC).

He stressed:" A committee is currently tasked to make feasibility studies on the programme and as soon as its recommendations are given, Government would accordingly implement it for the benefit of Ghanaians as w= e (NDC) promised."

Vice President Mahama made this known during a meeting with Mr S.P. Kuppuswamy, Advisor, Group Finance and Special Projects of Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Limited in India, in New Delhi.

The Vice President arrived in India on Saturday, to participate in the Sixth Annual Confederation of Indian Industries Conclave to explore investment opportunities for Ghana.

The programme, the sixth in the series, is organised by the Government of India; Export and Import Bank of India and the Confederation of Indian Industry and it is aimed at fostering investment partnerships between India= n Companies and African countries.

The Vice President would among other activities hold talks with the Business Community in India and hold bilateral talks with government officials of India, trumpet out the business potentials of Ghana and sign memoranda of understanding with companies or businesses that would express interest in investing in Ghana.

He would also deliver an address on the investment potentials of Ghana and whip up the enthusiasm of Indian companies to invest in Ghana, among other things.

The three-day programme, which would attract Presidents, Vice Presidents and top Government officials from selected African countries, would also seek to empower governments to create jobs and reduce the high rate of unemployment in their countries.

Mr Kuppuswany had called on the Vice President to express the interest of the company to improve upon slums in Ghana.

Vice President Mahama said urban development was crucial in Ghana to check the springing up of slums in the cities.

"The growing slums are becoming a major threat to development and that is why we captured it in our manifesto to alleviate the plight of the poor people who find themselves in these slums."

Mr Kuppuswany, said apart from slum development, his outfit was also engaged in development of ports; information technology parks; railway construction and bio-diesel.

He said the Company had already constructed similar facilities in the US, Mauritius and Ethiopia and expressed the hope that the corporate entity would be given the opportunity to extend its expertise to Ghana. Ms. Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry, expressed the hope that the Company would facilitate the efforts of the Government to develop a new port.

Mr Somenath Ghosh, Chairman and Managing Director of the National Research Development Corporation of India, who had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ghana to increase tomato cultivation in Ghana also met with the Vice President.

He said the Company would also engage in the improvement of soil fertility in Ghana to promote tomato production, combat termites, nematodes and other diseases that affected the crop and would help to develop the processing of fish. The Vice President was accompanied by Ministers of State and Businessme= n seeking investment partners in India.