The Asantehene His Majesty Otumfuo Osei-Tutu ll has disclosed that Kumasi and the Ashanti Region are open to investors who want to do business in the Region. “Manhyia Palace is ever ready to welcome investors and Paramount Chiefs have been instructed to cooperate as well and make the acquisition of land not a burden." When one invests in and around Kumasi, one can be assured of security and professional assistance. Kumasi welcomes investors and there are opportunities in several areas as you can imagine, including the traditional mining, forestry, cocoa, palm oil and grain processing. ”Nana Susubribi Krobea assured investors.
The Paramount Chief of Asante Akyim South, Nana Susubribi Asante Krobea, aka Dr S.K.B. Asante, representing Otumfuo Osei -Tutu II said this in New York City, at a well-organized and colorful ceremony at the Alfred Lerner Hall at the Columbia University on last Monday September 29, 2008.The event was the "Kumasi Investment Day in North America."
The Keynote speaker was Professor Jeffrey Sachs, the Director of the Earth Institute at the Columbia Center on Sustainable International Investment and the CEO of the Millennium Cities Initiative (MCI). He explained that the purpose of organizing the event was to expose prospective investors, particularly Ghanaians Living Aboard (GLAs) to commercially viable investment opportunities in and around the Millennium City of Kumasi. "Kumasi is one of eight cities in the world selected by the Earth Institute to benefit from the Initiative that entails making strategic studies, forming partnerships and driving resources all with the aim to alleviate poverty and increase employment, "Prof. Sachs noted.
The Chairman of the Kumasi Development Foundation (KDF), Mr. Akenten Appiah Menka expressed his deep appreciation to the Millennium Cities Initiative (MCI) led by Professor Jeffery Sachs and the GLAs who came in excellent numbers to support the event. “My message to the Ghanaians in the Diaspora, especially those who trace their roots to Ashanti is that if the MCI and the KDF are expected to succeed you should all be the magnet to entice offshore investors to Kumasi.
"Mr. Appiah Menka advised Ghanaians in the Diaspora that "It is good that many of you want to be involved politically but it will be even better if a few of you would turn your attention to business investments rather than politics. Kumasi is open to all but the saying that if the Royal does not lead the fight, the servants runaway is also true." He urged the sons and daughters of the soil must show the initiative or be ashamed when others do. The political stability in Ghana, enhanced by multi-party democracy and the rule of law should all beckon you in the Diaspora to head back home not as politicians but business people. Mr. Appiah Menka said the good news is that if you have the head to think, and the energy to make your dreams come true, there are funds available in Ghana. After all, capital is from the Latin word capus-capeti–meaning head. If you have a head then you have capital so get started. ”The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly(KMA)Ms. Patricia Appiagyei urged future investors to come to Kumasi because "Kumasi as Ghana’s second largest city with a population of 2.3million has not received adequate share of direct investments to Ghana. As CEO of AMA, it is my duty to inform you that my office stands ready to cooperate fully and ease your transition to success.
Present to Grace the event were, Ghana's Ambassador to USA, Dr Kwame Bawuah-Edusei, Mr. Rex Poku, the General Secretary of the Asanteman Association of North America (ACONA), Mr. Kofi Antwi Boateng, the Chief Operating Officer of The Africa-America Institute, Dr. Steve Poku Kwateng a private businessman in Washington DC who together with Rex Poku and Kofi Boateng coordinated and organized the event. Also in attendance were: Nana Kofi Anane Amponsah, the Asantefuohene of New York, Nana Kofi Boateng, the Asantefuohene of Washington DC. and Ms. Ivy Quarshie -Executive Secretary of the National Council of Ghanaian Associations and Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Mr. Lesley Kojo Christian.
