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
