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President Akufo-Addo Champions Ghana’s Economic Transformation at China-Africa Private Sector Forum
In a powerful address delivered at the China-Africa Private Sector Cooperation Forum on September 7, 2024, in Shenzhen, China, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana made a compelling case for stronger China-Africa economic collaboration, highlighting Ghana’s efforts toward industrialization, agricultural modernization, and green development.
His speech, delivered as part of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), outlined the transformative opportunities for investment in Ghana while emphasizing the country’s strategic role as a hub for economic growth in Africa.
In his address, President Akufo-Addo praised the remarkable achievements of Shenzhen, a city that epitomizes China’s economic transformation through innovation and investment. “Shenzhen symbolizes the extraordinary achievements that are possible through innovation, investment, and partnership,” he remarked.
Drawing parallels, he pointed out how similar efforts in Ghana are beginning to bear fruit and invited Chinese and global investors to join Ghana in replicating these successes across the African continent.
Central to President Akufo-Addo’s address was Ghana’s ambitious industrialization agenda. He emphasized that the key to Ghana’s economic transformation lies in adding value to its abundant natural resources.
One of the flagship sectors highlighted by the President was the burgeoning vehicle assembly industry, which has already attracted major global brands like Toyota, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Sinotruk to set up plants in the country.
The President assured potential investors of Ghana’s conducive investment environment, supported by the country’s Automotive Development Policy, which offers tax breaks and incentives for vehicle assembly operations.
With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat based in Accra, the President further stressed that Ghana offers investors a strategic gateway to the entire African market, positioning itself as a vital hub for regional trade and manufacturing.
Beyond the automotive sector, President Akufo-Addo outlined the success of the “One District, One Factory” (1D1F) initiative, a cornerstone of his government’s industrialization strategy.
Through this programme, the government has facilitated the establishment of at least one manufacturing facility in each of the country’s 261 districts.
As a result, 321 new factories have been developed, with 211 of them being brand-new enterprises. The initiative has also led to the creation of 170,000 jobs, and the President projected even more growth as the program continues to expand.
He urged Chinese investors to consider the vast potential within this program, emphasizing its role in decentralizing industry, creating jobs, and driving rural development.
President Akufo-Addo also acknowledged agriculture as the backbone of Ghana’s economy, contributing significantly to the nation’s GDP. However, he stressed that the sector remains ripe for modernization. The President highlighted Ghana’s “Planting for Food and Jobs” (PFJ) initiative, which has already supported over 1.9 million farmers, significantly boosting the production of key staples such as maize and rice.
Yet, the President was keen to underscore the immense opportunity for investment in agro-processing, a sector he believes will move Ghana up the agricultural value chain. With Ghana being the world’s second-largest producer of cocoa, he urged investors to seize the chance to partner in agro-processing, storage, mechanization, and sustainable agricultural practices, including organic farming.
President Akufo-Addo further emphasized his government’s commitment to green development, seeing it as both a moral imperative and an economic opportunity. He highlighted Ghana’s ambitious goals to increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix to 10% by 2030, presenting a wealth of opportunities for investment in solar and wind energy.
“Ghana’s doors are wide open to investors who share our vision of a prosperous, industrialized, agriculturally modern, and green Africa,” President Akufo-Addo declared, adding that Ghana offers significant incentives, such as tax breaks and guaranteed feed-in tariffs, to encourage investments in renewable energy.
The President also emphasized the need for improved waste management and recycling, viewing it as an area of immense potential for economic value creation.
In closing, President Akufo-Addo called for China and Africa to deepen their economic cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative, stressing that partnerships must be built on mutual respect and sustainable development. “The time is ripe for investment in Ghana,” he urged, calling on investors to seize the opportunities in industrialization, agriculture, and green development.
As Ghana continues to pave the way for economic transformation, President Akufo-Addo’s message at the China-Africa Private Sector Cooperation Forum was clear: Ghana is open for business, ready to partner with investors to build a future of shared prosperity and sustainable growth.
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Sacking Lands Minister won’t end galamsey – Miracles Aboagye
The Communications Director for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has stated that removing the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Jinapor from office, will not resolve the issue of illegal mining.
According to him, illegal mining existed before the minister took office, making calls for his dismissal unnecessary.
The Minority members on Parliament’s Works and Housing Committee has demanded the immediate removal of the Lands Minister and his deputies. They accuse them of failing to protect Ghana’s water bodies and rivers from the damaging effects of illegal mining, also known as “galamsey.”
Vincent Oppong Asamoah, the Ranking Member on the Works and Housing Committee, believes that removing the sector ministers would lead to the desired improvement.
However, speaking on JoyNews, Mr Aboagye asked; “Was there Galamsey before the Lands Minister took office? If you fire the Land Minister tomorrow, will it end Galamsey? The point is, before I say that, let’s relieve you of your role as a host on this program, you might have been culpable of something. I might have seen that you are either incompetent in fixing it or doing what you are doing, or you have not done what you are supposed to do.”
Mr Aboagye stated that social problems cannot be effectively addressed through scapegoating and politicisation.
He emphasised that if social issues are tackled in this manner, the real culprits are often left untouched.
“I am one person who has refrained from allowing this galamsey conversation to be drawn along partisan lines. Whose purpose does it serve? Who benefits from this? This galamsey menace has been present since 2011, when it first emerged under the former president as vice president and former President Mills,” he said.
Source:Myjoyonline.com
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‘Fix The Country’ member seen tearing down posters at National Cathedral site arrested
A member of the Fix the Country movement, under the auspices of Democracy Hub, has been arrested at Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
Ralph St. Williams, also known as Fellow Ghanaians, was arrested while en route to Kumasi in the Ashanti Region ahead of the group’s protest on Saturday.
The convener of the movement, Oliver Baker-Vormawor, made this known in a tweet on X on Thursday, September 19.
Mr Baker-Vormawor believes the arrest is linked to Fellow Ghanaians’ participation in the “Enough is Enough” demonstration organised by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) against the Electoral Commission.
“It appears that Ralph’s arrest stems from his peaceful participation in Tuesday’s ‘Enough is Enough’ demonstration, where he highlighted government mismanagement by opening the National Cathedral pit, a site that has already cost Ghana 58 million cedis, for symbolic swimming,” portions of the tweet read.
A viral video of the suspect shows him tearing down some posters at the Cathedral project site and expressing his anger over the misuse of public funds.
But the convener of the movement also alleged that the arrest was aimed at preventing Ralph St. Williams from participating in the upcoming ‘Say No to Galamsey’ protest, and to “intimidate activists fighting for transparency and environmental justice.”
Mr Baker-Vormawor condemned the arrest and demanded the immediate release of their member.
He also called for an official apology from the authorities for what he described as a blatant attempt to silence critical voices.
Meanwhile, he said that the group will be submitting a formal petition to the Inspector General of Police to address the situation.
Source:Myjoyonline.com
