Accra (Greater Accra) 23 March '99
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 March '99 A three-man delegation from Hyper Star, sponsors of a project to develop the capital's biggest one-stop shopping centre by September, has held discussions with government officials in Accra. The European style Hyper market, which would occupy a 20,000 sq. ft. area, would offer a mix of both local and European goods at "extremely competitive prices". It will have a recreational centre, restaurant, car park and a filling station. Mr Kaff Deku, a Ghanaian investment facilitator based in the United Kingdom and his British counterpart, Mr Richard Smith, told the GNA on Tuesday that they intend to invest an initial 500,000 dollars to start the project. Mr Smith runs a chain of supermarkets in South London, with annual turnover of about 95 million pounds sterling. The range of goods to be sold include adult and children's clothing, foot and sports wear, household items, entertainment, cosmetics and perfumes. Mr Deku said: "We have had fruitful discussions with the officials at the Trade Ministry, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Export Promotion, Free Zones Board and met representatives of vegetable growers association. Looking at the prospects, I think we are making progress." Other members of the delegation are Mr. Ben Acquah, a Ghanaian businessman, based in the UK, and Mrs Barbara Fynn- Williams, a business woman and local representative of the company. Mr Smith said Ghana was chosen for the project, because of its "infrastructure, political stability, language and positive climate for investment". " .We intend to use Ghana as the gateway to reach the rest of West Africa with a population of nearly 200 million, many of whom are fairly sophisticated." Mr Smith said the management of the project would introduce a "humane and progressive employment policy. We will endeavour to attract and develop a work force capable of supporting the future expansion of the company. " To achieve this, we will offer above average marketplace rates of pay and employees will have the opportunity to share in the company's success through a staff profit-sharing scheme." Mr Smith said they will also encourage local production of both agricultural and manufactured goods, adding:" It is our intention to work with local farmers and suppliers to develop best practices with regards to quality, packaging and distribution."
