Africans should partner Asians in development

Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - Mr Karl Auguste Offmann, former Mauritius President, on Monday urged African leaders to opt for a South-South partnership with Asian countries in order to tap their expertise and technologies to move the Continent forward.

He said there was also the need for Government to provide the needed infrastructure and institutional framework to Ghanaian entrepreneurs and convince them to invest in their own country before looking elsewhere for support.

"If Mauritius, a country with just 1.2 million people, has been able to develop our private sector and encourage our own indigenous people to invest and support the country's development, your country has more than what it takes to attain greater heights."

Ex-President Offman, who is in Ghana as guest the University of Ghana for the African Presidential Archive and Research Centre Public Lecture programme jointly organised by Boston University and University of Ghana, made the remarks in Accra when he paid a courtesy call on Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations. Ex-President Offman said although Ghana had a bright future, success could only be attained if Ghanaians began to fashion out great ideas and work towards them.

He said sugar, textiles and tourism were vibrant sectors in the Mauritius economy and were contributing to their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adding that his country was also venturing into the Information Communication Technology sector with support from India. Mr Offmann pledged Mauritius' support to share expertise with Ghana where necessary.

Mr Asamoah Boateng said lack of resources was constraining the development of Ghana's tourism sector; hence the country was calling for private sector support especially in enhancing service delivery in the hospitality industry.

He noted that enhancing service delivery in the hospitality industry and providing quality international hotels had become a priority especially as the country hosted the African Cup of Nations Tournament in January 2008.

The Minister said Ghana was also ready to collaborate with Mauritius to develop that sector.

In a related development, the Iranian Ambassador, Mr Valiolah Mohammadi, also called on the Minister to strengthen the relations between Ghana and Iran.

Mr Mohammadi said economic and trade relations between both countries had not been encouraging as a result of inadequate knowledge of opportunities and potentials that existed in both countries. He said a team from Iran was in Ghana to produce a documentary and take it back to showcase the tourism, investment and other potentials in Ghana to keep their citizens adequately informed.