President Mills: It is time for Africa to develop her economic power

From: Benjamin Mensah, GNA Special Correspondent, Maryland, USA

Maryland, Sept. 29, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills, on an investment drive in the US said it was time Africans in the Diaspora invested their capital and expertise on the Continent to make it an economic power.

He said Ghana was the preferred investment destination in Africa, considering her political stability, sound democratic credentials, friendly people and rich natural resources.

At a luncheon organized in his honour in Prince George's County in Maryland by the Africa Trade Office, President Mills said the Government was ready to strengthen Ghana-US relations to create a better life for the people, using the country's huge investment potential. He said the visit to Ghana by US President Barack Obama had placed on the country a sacred duty to blaze the trail, and to improve the living standards of the people.

He said there were investment opportunities in the tourism, housing, agriculture, and agri-business, health, education, road and rail construction sectors, adding that these were enhanced by the prevalence of democracy and the rule of law in Ghana. He indicated that under no circumstance would his Government misapply the country's resources since they were only trustees, declaring that "the resources of the State must be used for the benefit of the people".

President Mills reiterated Government's commitment to honesty, openness, transparency, accountability and invited the Diasporan community to assist Government to build a better Ghana. Dr Patricia Hayes, Director of Africa Trade Office said the office, established in 2008 was to broker strategic alliance for business opportunities in prime US locations for other overseas countries.