The Reverend Elizabeth McKinney, Executive Director of Ghana Trade and Information Office (GTIO), Los Angeles California said the centre would receive 500,000 dollars grant from US Department of Commerce for its operations in Ghana by next February.
The GTIO centre is expected to group a team of marketing, project, and liaison specialists who would concentrate on promoting business development of Ghana through business opportunities, using the technology, products and services of North American companies.
Rev McKinney, a Black American, recently out-doored as the Goodwill Ambassador to Cape Coast, Ghana, noted with concern recent media report, which did not actually capture the true meaning of an interview with the media about her recent visit to Ghana.
She said, "I was out-doored a gueenmother in Cape Coast as Nana Egyirba Adom Nsa I - not as a goodwill ambassador.
"I was appointed a goodwill ambassador by the Minister of Girl Child Education, Mr Christine Churcher and an MP of Cape Coast in August 2001 at the request of Nana Kweku Egyir Gyepi III, Krontihene of Cape Coast whom I have worked with for three years now since his visit to Los Angeles to promote the development of Cape Coast, in November in 2000".
Expressing her reservation on behalf of the group about a publication made about her that she was leading to a host of Americans to invest in Cape Coast in the Central Region in February next year, she said, adding, "I was in Ghana facilitating the definitional mission, bringing Dr. Dan Stern, CEO, Centre For International Development and Mr. Samuel Kleinman, Chief Technical Liaison, Council For Global Technology representing Project Development International (PDI) to complete a required definitional mission to Ghana".
She explained that the visit was to afford them the opportunity to study project proposals submitted by the Cape Coast Municipal Assembly on 18 projects.
She said the Ministry of Education and other concerns submitted projects as well.
The funding process of projects submitted are determined after completion of feasibility and recommended by the PDI process.
Rev. McKinney said the 585 million dollar figure quoted in the previous story was only one cost associated with the airport proposal submitted by the Cape Coast Municipal Members.
She said, "projects are funded through a combination of grants and loans and we only fund projects that are sustainable. This is because the projects must be able to repay the loan, when the project is completed, up and running and generating the income to do so."
The Cape Coast projects would include deep-sea water project, the building of an airstrip airport and the construction of roads to link the various centre to improve infrastructure.
She said, it was upon Mr. Kleinman and Dr. Sterns' recommendation after reviewing the projects that proposals were submitted in Cape Coast to start with the airport, deep sea water port and a four lane highway between Cape Coast and Accra.
"This is because in order for projects requested to move forward, these are items that need to be in place.
She also debunked the impression created that GTIO and its collaborators are investors, stressing "we did not come representing American Businessmen. Dr. Stern was representing the Centre For International Development.
Mr. Kleinman, the PDI and I were was there to represent and introduce the GTIO to Ghana, and as the CEO of Prophetic Management Enterprises "LLC" representing the GTIO."
"It is through the Goodwill work performed through Prophetic Management Enterprises "LLC" that caused the company to form the GTIO. The GTIO is and extension of Prophetic Management Enterprises "LLC" and is a California Non Profit Public Benefit Corporation.
"I was recommended to the CID by the Director of International Trade of the City of Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn Office of Economic Development, Ms. Eloisa Klemovich by way of the Los Angeles Minority Business Opportunity Committee (LAMBOC) Asst. Deputy and Director and Mr. Mario Marin, Director of Los Angeles Office of Procurement and Services. The Mayor's Office of Economic Development has been very supportive of Prophetic Management since the Goodwill Ambassador Appointment.
"The CID, PDI and GTIO work in association with one another. My role in facilitating the GTIO is that of liaison between the Ghana government to the CID - PDI process.
"The CID and PDI are funded by the United State Agency for International Development (USAID).
"This means we are all very much accountable for what we state and how we represent what we are doing. The GTIO is funded by the US the US Department of Commerce."
She also denied coming at the instance of the Minister of State In Charge of Education, adding "We came there at the invitation of The Cape Coast Government representatives, the request of the Omahene and Chief of Cape Coast, Osabirimba Kwesi Atta I and Nana Kweku Egyir Gyepi III respectively.
She said the primary objective in establishing a North American Ghana Trade and Information Office (GTIO) was to support Ghana in the development and implementation of business development plans and strategies and to promote business opportunities in Ghana to North American companies.
It would also be used to actively foster strong relationships with the North American governments and related agencies for funding and international trade.
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