Ghana’s ever vibrant former minister of Finance who is well positioned to clinch the NPP’s nomination, showcased his ability woo high level investment to Ghana as he becomes the flagbearer of the NPP and ultimately, the president of Ghana when he visited Chicago last week.
The crowd, who waited anxiously to catch the glimpse of his entourage were enthused by the diplomatic level at which he was received in Chicago. At the Chicago O’Hare airport to receive him were Prof. Samuel Akainya, a renowned professor in Chicago who is also a philanthropist, Mr. Francis Opoku Asante (coordinator for Chicago ), Dr Kwaku Ampadu and few other dignitaries. His presidential limousine which depicted Ghana flag hoisted on the right side and American flag hoisted on the left side reinforced his seriousness in entering a diplomatic mode prior to meeting with some diplomats, technocrats and businessmen in Chicago.
Hon. Osafo-Maafo held two programmes in the evening. The first phase was held at the Akainya gallery for technocrats, business men and some diplomats in Chicago. Among the dignitaries present at the speech presentation were the Deputy Mayor of Chicago, The president of Kennedy King College , the leading engineer of the Kia Motors laboratory in Chicago, Prof Samuel Akainya etc.
During the introduction, Mr. Francis Opoku Asante stated that Hon. Yaw Osafo-Maafo in an icon as well as a proven performer who resuscitated Ghana’s economy from the verge of collapsing to a level where the economy has registered the most permanent resilience ever in the history of Ghana. Mr. Asante stated that Hon. Osafo-Maafo is a visionary who thinks outside the box and make impossibilities possible. He stressed that the world bank saw his visionary skills and that explains their selection of Osafo-Maafo for the Liberian economic reconstruction. The crowd was charged when Mr. Asante stated that Hon. Osafo-Maafo is the only minister in the history of Ghana who led the black stars to a historic FIFA World Cup Tournament and that Ghana even beat the United States in the tournament.
Prof. Samuel Akainya; a philanthropist, an artist, a musician, a diplomat, a lawyer by profession who owns one of the prominent art galleries in the United States and is considered one of the most influential people in Chicago and the North America, on his part, stated that as his service to Ghana he will put in place all measures to bring more investors from the United States to Ghana. He stressed that Hon .Osafo Maafo's competence and positive track record is something that is recognized not only in the United States but elsewhere in the world.
In Hon. Osafo-Maafo’s speech to the audience, he registered his unflinching desire in turning Ghana to a service center for the whole of Africa . He stressed on areas such as the financial sector, automotive, the medical field, tourism, education, industrialization. Etc. He also talked about incentives that his government would offer investors when he becomes the President of Ghana. A technocrat who emerged during the questions and answers time stated that Hon. Osafo-Maafo’s rich experience in itself will woo investor’s to go and invest in Ghana. Hon. Osafo-Maafo as creative as he is stated that he will lay more emphasis on brain gain instead of brain drain. He was of the view that Ghana can benefit more from brain gain. He elucidated that Ghana has enormous talented people living abroad so he will put in place attractive benefits to woo their services back into the country. He quickly added that the professionals who are already in the country need to be retained and this would be possible if they are given attractive benefits.
The final phase of his meeting saw Hon. Osafo-Maafo interacting with the Ghanaian Community in Chicago. He promised to work hard to win the NPP’s nomination in his quest to accelerate Ghana’s economic growth and economic development. He presented his vision for Ghana to the Ghanaian community in a manner which emphasizes him well known competence not only in Ghana but within the international community.
Report filed by:
Osafo-Maafo’s Chicago Campaign E-mail: osafomaafochicagocampaign@yahoo.com Website: www.osafomaafo4president.com
