President Akufo-Addo Touts Ghana At Expo 2020
“We are the safest country in West Africa, we are the largest recipient of Foreign direct investment in West Africa, we are ranked third in the ease of doing business index in West Africa, and we are the new commercial capital”, President Akufo-Addo said at the Dubai Expo 2020.
The President of Ghana, during his speech on “Ghana Day” at the United Arab Emirate on March 8 whetted the appetite of foreign investors touting the achievements, policies, and accolades Ghana has earned for herself since the inception of the 4th Republic.
He highlighted that the 65-year-old nation has unquestionably attractive opportunities.
“Before the onset of COVID-19, Ghana, in 2017, 2018, and 2019, during my first term in office, we recorded an annual average GDP growth rate of 7% making our economy one of the fastest-growing in the world at the time. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, we were indeed one of the few countries to record positive growth. Through our one hundred billion cedis economic recovery programme, thus the Ghana Care Obatanpa programme, the economy grew a provisional 5.2% at the first three quarters of 2021 with a projected growth rate of 5.6% for 2021. We appear to be on the path of sustained economic growth recovery.”
The president didn’t hold up in unfolding Ghana’s achievement among her neighbours and the world at large.
“We are the second-largest cocoa producers in the world, we are the largest producer of gold in Africa, we are endowed with considerable deposits of bauxite, iron ore, manganese, lithium, oil and gas, diamonds, and timber and we are geographically closer than any other country to the centre of the planet.
He pointed out that Ghana is ready for business and added that “We are a country where investments are secure and protected under a governance system where an independent judiciary upholds the rule of law and respect for private property rights”.
President Akufo-Addo, however, conceded that the country is currently faced with challenges but noted that the challenges are recognised as “opportunities which serve as catalysts for growth and the realisation of the government’s transformational agenda. This agenda is hinged primarily on creating space for the private sector to thrive thereby growing the jobs that our young people need.”
He further heralded the Akufo-Addo led government’s One District One Factory (1D1F), Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiatives, and the digitalisation drives his government is championing in Ghana.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
