Mahama pushes for US investment

PRESIDENT MAHAMA PUSHES FOR INVESTMENT FROM US BASED BUSINESSES.

Buckhead, Atlanta, USA. October 1, 2013 – The Ghana International Chamber

of Commerce Atlanta, (GHICC) recently treated the president of Ghana, John

Dramani Mahama, to a business and investment luncheon after his series of

talks at the 68th UN General Assembly, and the Kennesaw State University in

New York and Atlanta respectively. It is his first visit since his swearing

in as president of Ghana, the fourth since the new Republic , and an

important one to kick start the economy of Ghana again, after the recent Supreme

Court proceedings verifying the eligibility of the recent election results

left potential investors and other business opportunities stalling.

The GHICC upholds a commitment to promote and extend Ghana’s trade and

commerce typically from the United States of America, and has also been

involved with creating ‘win-win’ opportunities between stakeholders from the US

and the international community and Ghana. Thus by organizing the luncheon,

the opportunity became a prime one for President Mahama, to meet with

potential investors, business owners and entrepreneurs to communicate his

investment strategies as a direct attempt to open up more productive trade

lines, and what's more, see advancement and steady growth in Ghana’s economy,

technology and infrastructure .

Accompanied by Daniel Ohene-Agyekum, Ghana Ambassador to the US and other

ministers of state such as Trade and Development Minister Hon. Haruna

Iddrisu, as well as Information minister Hon. Mahama Ayariga, President Mahama

was swift to highlight his trade and investment manifesto to a room full of

willing individuals and groups of companies who are on a forward march to

the most thriving economy and nation in Africa. Therefore as Ghana continues

to remain a certain emerging market in the sub Saharan region, the timing

of the forum was spot on.

Speaking to the guests, President Mahama mentioned the areas of power

generation and distribution, investment funds to support Ghana’s growing small

and midsized companies and agricultural processing. With neighboring West

African countries in the region, He emphasized that the time has come for

Ghana’s produce to gain a better value by processing what is cultivated even

for export. He added that the areas of mining and processing of minerals

like iron ore and bauxite, remain a top developmental strategy to increase

the revenue generated from exports, and also minimize the importation of

produce that would otherwise have been made in Ghana.

Some of groups which were present during the business meeting are Cedar

Investment Group, World Trade center, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta's

Mayor Office, Atlanta International Airport, TBDR, DigiGlobal Network,

JMJ, William Lloyd's and AMG Agriculture.

With major networks available to learn firsthand the strategies and

economic drive of the Ghanaian leader for his country, the Atlanta Business

Chronicle, Final Call Newspaper, Atlanta Broadcasting Corporation, TV Africa and

others, understood also, the revised and improved investment laws that are

set to attract foreign investors into all sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

It is without a doubt, that the political stability in Ghana, coupled with

the vast potential the country has, to improve its transportation,

communication systems and energy among others, has challenged the Ghana Investment

Promotion Centre to embark on a more aggressive and ambitious investment

promotion drive, to set up a convenient environment for investors.

Organizations from the luncheon that are also trading globally include

Libreum Investment Management, together with representatives from the sectors

of Energy, Media, and Hotels & Resorts. The Mayor of Atlanta, Kassim Reed,

also had his deputy CFO Gwen Smith present, and Lilia Postolachi, board

member of the World Trade Center.

The president of the GHICC, Matilda Arhin, expressed her delight at the

response by the participants and their readiness to help with the growth and

development of Ghana.

Report by:

Paul Asher T

Freelance Journalist