Aliu fetes Members of Ghana Investors Advisory Council

The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama on the eve of the third meeting of the Ghana Investors Advisory Council hosted a State Dinner in honour of the members.

Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Head of Corporate bodies and members of the Diplomatic Corps attended the dinner, intended to serve as an icebreaker to engender an informal atmosphere for a successful meeting on Friday.

"It is quite obvious that this informal gathering is only intended to break down the barriers of stiff formality that otherwise may somehow stifle tomorrow's deliberations. We want to afford ourselves the chance of sounding one another and putting ourselves at ease in order to create a conducive and more cordial relationship for our business," the Vice President said as he welcomed the guests.

Consequently, the ceremony was short on speeches and longer on entertainment, with the Police Band and the African Show Time Dancers, providing music and some cultural dances, respectively, to lift up the mood of the diners.

The Council, inaugurated by President John Agyekum Kufuor, on May 3, 2002 is made up of top-level corporate executives, who would assist to increase understanding between the government and the private sector to attract domestic and foreign investments to grow the economy.

Executives of reputable companies such as CMS Energy Company, Heinz, Heineken, Ashanti Goldfields and Ecobank are members.

Their third meeting, which would be chaired by President Kufuor, is expected to discuss progress made on reducing the cost of doing business in Ghana by addressing issues related to easier access to land, off-shore banking, insurance, security and other crucial matters.

Vice President Mahama urged the Council members to visit Ghana's website to keep abreast with efforts being made toward national socio-economic development.

On behalf of the Council, Dr Kofi Amoah, Chief Executive of Progency Ventures International, said as practitioners in the art of business they would share their insight with President Kufuor to help to solve some of the economic problems confronting Ghana.

He said in accordance with the President's request to them to be 'brutally frank' with him in their advice, they would not mince words in their contributions, but engage him in straight discussions to solve the problems of creating jobs and reducing poverty.

Dr Amoah commended the President for seeking answers to Ghana's problems beyond his Government, saying it was a mark of genuine concern for improving the lot of Ghanaians.

The fourth meeting of Council scheduled for November would be held outside the capital. The meetings are held twice a year.