Prez. Mahama leads Ghana’s investment drive in UK

• Posted on October 22, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

President John Mahama is telling the Ghanaian story to potential investors as corporate organizations across the globe; business leaders and governments meet in London to discuss areas of investment at the Global Africa Investment Summit.

The event which started yesterday at the plush Savor Hotel at Central London offers Ghana the opportunity to woo investors into the country.

President Mahama, who is leading a high-powered delegation which includes ministers of state, Ghana’s ambassadors to some European countries, said government recognizes the challenges, especially in the energy sector and it is working to resolve the crisis.

“We are in the process of expanding existing power generating plants in the country and we are also in discussion with some independent power producers to add on to the national grid and these steps will soon bear fruits,” he said.

The Finance Minister, Seth Tekper, and his colleague ministers from Trade and Industry as well as Transport, and Agriculture have also been outlining areas government considers crucial for foreign direct investment.

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre is leading the way after months of putting together the Ghana story for potential investors.

Chief executive at the center Mawuena Trebah told myjoyonline.com infrastructural development, the energy sector as well as agriculture and agro processing remains key areas government is seeking partnership to develop.

“Our story has been very well received and it is no surprise that Ghana remains the most subscribed in terms of investment interest at this summit.”

She however says the country is looking beyond meetings and talkshops and said her center is working towards getting the investors to make definitive commitment to do business in the country.

“In the last few months the GIPC has worked with the various ministries to come up with bankable projects that can be delivered in real time and this is available to those we have been talking to and we are hopeful this will translate into real jobs on the ground.”

She expressed her commitment to ensure that the overall objective of the government to create jobs through investment is achieved.

According to Mrs Trebah, the center has been sensitizing the business community on the new GIPC legislation, which she said suits current economic times.

She also mentioned that internal restructuring is being stepped up to make the center a customer service oriented institution that makes available all the necessary tools to enable businesses execute their investment in a timely fashion.

“In all of these the Ghanaian business is not left out because we are interested in partnerships; so while the investor gets the needed profit, the country will also witness development,” she added.

Meanwhile the Ghana High Commission in the United Kingdom is partnering the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre for a forum with the UK business community to look at some of the bankable projects available for exploitation in Ghana.

The forum will also be attended by the some ministers of state presently in London.

-joynews