Ghana seeks Poland's support to build airdromes

Ghana is soliciting support from Poland to establish airdromes in some regions to help in emergency situations, especially in the area of health, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Trade and Industry, has announced.

He said it was the intention of the government to establish airfields in Wa, Bolgatanga, Ho and Cape Coast and appealed to Poland to assist and also provide aircrafts to help improve medical and disaster management in Ghana.

Mr. Iddrisu was addressing a 51- member Polish business delegation forum in Accra. The delegation is in Ghana to explore business avenues under the Public/Private Partnership policy of the government.

The delegation would seek partnership with their Ghanaian counterparts in energy, agriculture, maritime, transport, Information Communication and Technology and water sectors.

Mr. Iddrisu said the government’s vision had always been to improve public/ private partnership. The Trade Minister told the delegation that Ghana welcomed enterprises that would add value to its produce and natural resources and that the delegation’s visit signified the reviewing and rebuilding of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Mr. Iddrisu assured the Polish delegation of excellent legal system that protected the business environment and other tax regimes that assure 100 per cent repatriation of profits but business enterprise are however required to pay legitimate taxes to government.

He said the government was working hard to improve the fiscal outlook and other sectors of the economy, especially the energy sector. Mr. Iddrisu appealed to Ghanaian business enterprises to take advantage of the lack of mangoes and pineapples in Poland to create new markets and increase trade between the two countries.

Madam Katarzyna Kacperczyk, Poland’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, spelt out Poland’s vision for Ghana and said her country had expertise in agriculture, transport, energy and several other areas.

She said business enterprises in Poland had plans to invest in Ghana, saying Ghana and Poland had the similar challenges and successes and that it would be more beneficial if the two countries shared experiences and expertise through partnership and joint ventures.

Madam Kacperczyk, commended Ghana Football and said Poland would be interested to learn from your soccer team. Madam Dzifa Ativor, the Minister of Transport, appealed to the delegation to assist Ghana to build its shipyard and also establish a ship building factory in Ghana, as well as support it with vessels to improve marine transport.

Our goods are transported by road and we need to revamp the maritime sector to help improve the movement of goods and services, she said. She said Ghana has a Maritime University and urged the Polish government to provide the University with vessel and training opportunities.

Mr. Dariusz Bogdan, Poland’s Deputy Minister for Economy, said Poland was interested to enter the Africa market. He said Poland had positioned itself to take advantage of the opportunities, especially in Ghana, to relocate its businesses.