The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Robert P. Jackson, has urged Ghana to transform its manufacturing sector to increase the number of ‘made-in-Ghana’ products exported to the US market.
The envoy said Ghana must open its doors to receive US products and services, noting that under his tenure, trade between US-Ghana would increase in favour of Ghana.
Mr. Jackson disclosed this while speaking at the second edition of Action Chapel International’s (ACI) Entrepreneurs’ Business Breakfast Meeting, hosted by His Eminence Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, Founder and General Overseer of ACI.
Currently, the level of bilateral trade between Ghana and the US stands at $1.2 billion which heavily favours the US.
Mr Jackson said, “I want to significantly deepen the commercial engagement between the United States and Ghana. My goal is to double the level of bilateral trade between both countries over the next three years.”
He said, “First, it will require hard work, commitment and follow-through from our governments; second all stakeholders – American and Ghanaian must address some tough and sensitive issues and take a stand to do what is right even in the midst of opposition from vested interest groups.
“And finally, we need the private sector to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit and push for needed reforms and more business-friendly policies,” the US Ambassador to Ghana said.
Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, in his remarks, urged entrepreneurs to acknowledge God as the source of their blessings.
He appealed to Ghanaians to pray as the general elections draw closer.
Entrepreneurs’ Business Breakfast
The Entrepreneurs’ Business Breakfast Meeting will be organized bi-monthly by Action Chapel International’s Airport Residential Area Branch throughout the year.
The maiden edition was chaired by Dr Ekwow Spio-Gabrah, Minister of Trade and Industry, and had Ami Mehl, Israel’s Ambassador to Ghana, as the special guest of honour.
The June edition of the business breakfast meeting was sponsored by Krif Ghana Limited and Fidelity Bank.
One hundred and twenty guests, comprising Ghanaian and foreign entrepreneurs, professionals and diplomats, were present at the business breakfast meeting.
By Cephas Larbi