Ambassador Victor Emmanuel Smith, at the instance of the Greater Savannah Ghana Alliance, in partnership with the City of Savannah and World Trade Center Savannah, Georgia, delivered a poignant address to high level US Civic leaders and business professionals at the inaugural Greater Savannah Ghana Business Forum.

The address, which highlighted the expanding opportunities in trade and investment and emerging markets in Ghana’s remarkably stabilized and progressing economy, brought participants to their feet in thunderous applause, a gesture of solidarity and confidence in the leadership of John Dramani Mahama and his agenda of Resetting the economic landscape of Ghana and in the now widely known and acknowledged agenda of "Ghana is open for Business."

Ambassador Smith emphasised the stabilized key macroeconomic indicators, improved public financial management, restored credibility with international partners and the predictive policy environment resulting in unprecedented surge in investor confidence.

He said that these achievements by the government of Ghana have been realised as a result of deliberate policy choices aimed at restoring the foundation for sustainable economic growth.

The Ambassador made it clear that the emphasis is on partnership with diaspora expertise and value addition to the country’s abundant resources, which must result in opportunities for Ghana's teeming youth population in talent identification and skills development for credible career pathways.

He stressed that the commitment is to longterm "partnerships that are inclusive, respectful and future-focused."

The Ambassador was of the opinion that human dignity and acceptance are best realized when people live and thrive in their home environments which offer good opportunities, cultural enrichment and shared prosperity.

He said, "by translating dualogue into investment...young Ghanaians can access meaningful work, competitive wages and professional growth at home (and) migration becomes a choice - not a necessity."

The Ambassador assured that Ghana's youth are the target of the future the government strives to build, a future where "their talents are needed, valued and rewarded."

He made the call that if together dialogue can be turned into action, then the partnership with American investors and the diaspora stepping "forward as bridge builders and co-creators" partnerships will definitely turn into lasting impact for the benefit of all parties.

The event brought together some of the most prominent members of Greater Savannah society including Dr Joseph Silver, Chair of the Greater Savannah Ghana Alliance; Edna Jackson, Representative of the Georgia House of Representatives; Dr Seth Borquaye, Obstetriciand and Gynecologist and leader of Medical Missions from Savannah to Ghana; Leigh Ryan, Senior Vice President, World Trade Center Savannah; Antwone Mohammed, Programmes and Community Development Manager; and Yvonne Horsely McCowin, Honorary Consul for Atlanta and the Southeast Region of the United States.

Meanwhile, watch the excitement, divisions over Agradaa’s reduced sentence