Eastern Region Expo 2003 ends

Koforidua, Nov. 11, GNA- The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Birim South, Mr. Yaw Amprofi has said the just-ended Eastern Expo 2003 was poorly organized.

He said the main aim that underscored the Expo was not realised because everything seemed "fiasco" considering the series of meetings held with the organizers and the various Districts Chief Executives on how best the exhibition could project the region.

The DCE was speaking in an interview with the GNA on Saturday at Koforidua at the end of the Expo 2003. The occasion marked the day of the Birim South District Assembly.

Mr Amprofi said the Expo was a waste of resources stressing that "it would have been beneficial to the various districts if the resources had been channelled through another area of investment."

He noted with concern that as at the close of the programme not even a single investor came out to show interest in any of the several projects and potentials exhibited by the participants neither did the DCE's had discussion with any investor.

Mr Amprofi said every district that participated including his district paid six million cedis for each of the exhibition stand, hoping that they would achieve more for the district in terms of getting investment.

He said the Expo was "like an ordinary reduction sales at a shop organized for people to walk in, buy, and get out", adding, "this was contrary to what the organisers discussed with us".

The DCE said if it were selling and buying alone the participation of the district assemblies and the days set aside for each district to showcase it's potential were irrelevant.

He mentioned lack of publicity, non-personal contacts with investors and other areas, which contributed to the failure of the Expo. The exhibitors on the other hand, complained about low patronage of the Expo.

According to the exhibitors they could not even sell to the amount spent in purchasing the stand let alone gaining profit.