Gov’t sells SADA zone to investors

Government has encouraged investors to tap into potentials of the country’s Savannah Ecological Zone.

Mr. Samuel Justice Adjei, who represented President John Dramani Mahama, made the appeal at the opening ceremony of the 20th Ghana International Trade Fair held in Ghana.

The zone, he said, has lots of vast opportunities which if well explored could help alleviate poverty and unemployment in the country.

The fair is to be held from 25 February to March 7, 2016 on the theme ‘Two decades of International Trade Fairs in Ghana: Exploring business opportunities in the SADA Zone of Ghana’, aimed at selling the SADA zone as an alternative investment destination

About 500 exhibitors from within and outside the country have already arrived in the region to participate in the fair, which is expected to open opportunities for local small businesses to market their products as well meet business entities to share ideas for boosting their businesses and improving their livelihoods.

Mr. Adjei stressed that the SADA zone contributes enormously to the country’s socio-economic needs, with government generating revenue from the agriculture, tourism and natural resources for developmental projects.

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr. Dawarnoba Baeka, stressed the need for citizens to patronise local made goods and enable the producers to generate income and expand their business.

“If we don’t produce and sell what we have, government and the citizens cannot get money for their projects; which will go a long way to affect job opportunities,” he said.

The Board Chairman of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), Alhaji Sulley Adam, said the zone is a frontier to investment and needs the efforts of all to ensure sustainability of the opportunities to stem the North-South migration of youth in search of non-existing jobs.

He expressed hope that local industries and small enterprises will showcase their products to attract the attention of investors.

Mrs. Hanna B Amoateng Board Chair of Ghana International Trade Fair Company, said the fair will help to bridge the gap between the south and the north, adding that expansion of the Tamale Airport will boost business activities in the north.

She said the SADA Zone is noted to be one of the fastest-growing in the country, because infrastructure development is very encouraging in the course of doing business with relatively cheap resources.