NGO to Liaise With American Investors to Invest

THE DEPUTY Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Mr. Kofi Poku Adusei has commended the African Connections Ghana Limited (AC) in identifying and introducing private sector investors in America to new and promising trade and investment opportunities in Africa.

He made this commendation at a forum organized by the AC in collaboration with the Ghana@50 Secretariat, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), Ministry of Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and PSI, to introduce the "Focus-On-Africa agenda.

Addressing the press on the theme, "Sustainable Development for the Rural Communities: A key to Ghana Growth in the Next 50 Years," the Deputy Minister mentioned that the forum stands to gain attention from both national and international businessmen and women who are currently in the country to celebrate the country's 50th Independence Anniversary and also serve as a preparation platform to get District Assemblies organised and equipped for the Focus-On-Africa.

He announced that the Focus-On-Africa, which is a business and investment mission to the USA, will enable DCEs and Planning Officers, Corporate Chief Executives, Directors of government institutions and business concerns at the decentralized level to meet American entrepreneurs, government officials and private sector professionals who are looking for opportunities to invest in the country to discuss investment opportunities in the Districts.

According to the Deputy Minister, the Ministry of Local Government is abreast with African Connections' effort at providing hands-on assistance to some of the districts to maximize their district resource opportunities and economic potential for alleviation of rural poverty.

He stated that the achievement of this objective will result in increased employment and wealth creation in the process, admitting that a nationwide investment in the districts will stimulate exponential growth and stability of the economy thereby precipitating Ghana's transition into a middle income and self-sufficient economy.

The Managing Director of African Connections, Dr. Ayesha S. Hakeem disclosed that almost all the decentralized administrative Districts in the country are host to enormous natural resources and offer a congenial and attractive template for investment in agribusiness, wood processing, manufacturing and service ventures.

She noted that the Districts at the forum would have to extensively display a graphic and attractive image about their investment potentials to prospective investors and be able to build inter-district alliance for logistics and economic cooperation in the execution of the District Development Plan (DDP).

Dr. Hakeem further hinted that the Assemblies would have to design informative websites and effective district profiles to market their districts, improve on attracting investment and transform the district into agro-mechanized centres for increased productivity and value addition to their products.

"This will engender wealth creation and accelerate economic development as commodities will be able to get command price and stand against competition to ensure income stability," she said.

The Inter District Forum which was a three day event is being organized for all the 138 Districts in the country and is expected to bring together members of the Assemblies, entrepreneurs and individuals in the various districts to showcase the districts' resource opportunities, economic potentials and to explore multi-faceted strategies to attract investment into these areas to enhance development and livelihood.

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