The Second Northern Ghana Entrepreneurship and Investment Conference, is underway in Tamale, with the aim to create a platform to promote business and investment opportunities in the Northern Region.

The two-day event, is being attended by business owners, operators of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), and officials from public sector organizations, including the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre.

Activities lined up, include discussions by experts on several topics, including business formation and planning, government support and tax incentives, local business capacity development, access to capital and business growth potential, among others.

It is being organized by the Management of Zaa Radio, a Tamale-based radio station, as part of its mission to promote and advocate for progressive social and economic change in northern Ghana.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Alhaji Muhammad Ibn Umar, Chief Executive Officer of Zaa Radio, said the region had comparative advantage in agriculture, food processing and crafts industries, and urged investors to venture into those sectors.

Alhaji Ibn Umar said “Agro-processing and technology for the conservation of local produce should be of interest as well as the potential for tourism development, focusing on our festivals amongst others.”

He urged government to work to eliminate impediments that hinder or delay the establishment, sustenance and growth of business in the country.

He said “The development of micro enterprises needs to be of interest to policy makers to raise the country’s Gross Domestic Product as well as increase wealth creation in the Northern Region.”

Mr Mohammed Murtala, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, gave the assurance that government would continue to support SMEs with the needed capital, to improve productivity and generate employment opportunities for the people.

Mr Murtala urged investors to focus their attention on the Northern Region, because it has numerous potentials that are yet to be tapped into.

The Northern Ghana Entrepreneurship and Investment Aonference is an annual event held in December, and this year’s event is on the theme: “Exploring Business Opportunities in Northern Ghana”.