Welcome Mat Awaiting Canadian Investors

Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada, His Excellency Samuel Arthur Odoi Sykes has extended an invitation to Canadian Business people to invest in Ghana’s fast growing economy. Delivering the Keynote Speech at a Breakfast Meeting of the Canada Africa Business Council at RoseWater Super Club in Toronto, Canada on Thursday May 15, 2003, the High Commissioner pointed out that a very warm welcome mat awaits all business people from Canada who want to invest in Ghana.

The High Commissioner enumerated the positive achievements that the current government of President Kufour has chalked in Ghana over the past two years since taking power. "Our government", he said, " believes in the private sector as the engine to drive the Ghanaian economy and that is why the President, John Agyekum Kufour declared a Golden Age of Business for Ghana". "This declaration was an invitation to domestic and international private sector to join hands with the government in the development of Ghana’s economy".

The government’s seriousness in this sector, the High Commissioner said, is underscored by the creation of a special Ministry in the Office of the President called the Ministry of Private Sector Development. This Ministry is charged with the responsibility to facilitate the development and growth of a competitive and vibrant private sector, and also help to reduce the cost of doing business in Ghana.

Noting that Globalization is now turning the world into one global village where geography and traditionalism are no longer impediments to international trade, His Excellency Odoi Sykes extended a hand of welcome to Canadian investors and Businessmen to participate in Ghana’s economic development. Ghana’s investment environment is very friendly, offering a lot of attractive prospects for profits. Some of the attractions, the High Commissioner noted, include a stable, multi-party democracy, good governance, the rule of law and protection of individual rights, availability of skilled and trainable labor, a Stock Exchange and being an active member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) among others.

The President of the Canada Africa Business Council, Mr. Joesph Annan, pointed out that Africa is an emerging market with a huge potential for good profits and appealed to the Canadian Business Community to take advantage of it. In the light of this, he said that the Canada Africa Business Council is planning a Canadian Trade Mission to Ghana in October 2003.

The Chairman of the Council, Mr. Paul Tuz presented a plaque to the High Commissioner as a token of the Council’s appreciation for the High Commissioner’s support for its work. A number of Organizations and Canadian Government Departments were represented at the meeting and offered special greetings. These included International Market, Ontario Export Inc, International Trade Center of Industry Canada and Export Development Canada (EDC), among others.