The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has urged the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and the Ghana EXIM Bank to woo more investors to the region.
He said the region continued to work hard to safeguard entrepreneurs and businesses through government policies and initiatives, including the creation of jobs, human capital, adding that “deepening the path in our development has been in the right direction to grow the economy.”
“Mr Darko-Mensah made these points at the GIPC business forum held in Takoradi on Wednesday, as part of the regional sensitisation tours to educate stakeholders on the functions of GIPC and also discuss issues facing the business community.
The event on theme ‘Grow in Ghana, Grow with Ghana’ also aimed at promoting local indigenous business investment and direct partnerships with their foreign counterparts
According to him, GIPC investment plans for the region should identify agriculture, agro-processing, agri-business, tourism, infrastructure and the services, saying that “these are the key areas for the creation of the massive jobs we are looking at for businesses in the region.”
He believed that local businessmen and women were important because their activities generated wealth for assemblies in the region and the country and therefore, urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to identify development project which could be comfortably marketed by GIPC.
These efforts, Mr Darko-Mensah added, would enhance the overall development of the district and Western Region.
“Over the years, the influx of investment in the Western Region has been overwhelming and densely concentrated. The region has proven to be a viable investment hub of the country, boasting of a conducive business environment and the required human capital.
“As a natural resource based and the economic backbone of the country, we are well noted to produce cocoa, rubber oil palm, coconuts, rocks for quarry, tourist attractions as well as Gold. Oil and gas business lithium at Dixcove and Sekondi Area,” Mr Darko-Mensah said.
He stated that the value chain platforms had been formed in all the 14 MMDAs with close networks with various ministries, departments, agencies and private stakeholders, thereby creating a common platform to enhance market linkages and improve trade relations among businesses in our region.
He, however, called on all businesses across the world to invest in the western region “for our immense growth.”
The Omanhene of Essikado, Nana Kobina Nketsiah V, applauded GIPCs efforts but argued that, it was important that, the region began to question the notion of investors coming into the Western Region.
Transparency and accountability, he added, were key to new engagements targeted to promote investment and growth in the region, saying “are the investors here to rip you off or grow with you.”
“If we are sleeping, we should wake up, we can do it and grow the Western Region,” Nana Nketsiah stressed.
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, TAKORADI
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