Accra (Greater Accra), 25th November 99
Speakers at a day's forum on trade and investment for participants of the just-ended Consultative Group Meeting on Ghana on Thursday expressed disappointment when the target audience, the donors, failed to turn up.
The forum, organised by the National Development Planning Committee (NDPC), was attended by only 10 foreign participants. No reasons were given for the low donor-participation.
One of the speakers, Nana Yeboah Asare Kodie II, President of the Private Enterprise Foundation (PEF), said both the government and the private sector have in recent times pursued policies that seek to increase the level of Foreign Direct Investment.
As a result, various groups have undertaken a number of trade missions abroad aimed at increasing the inflow of investment.
"It is, however, disappointing to note that in spite of these and other efforts, the level of foreign direct investment still falls short of our expectations."
He said if these efforts could not yield the desired result, then Thursday's function should have served as a major platform.
This is because most of the donors are in the country and could take advantage of the forum to find out which sector to invest in.
The donors are in Accra for the 10th Consultative Group Meeting on Ghana, at which the country's economy is assessed and pledges made to boost the development process.
This is the first time that Ghana is hosting the meeting organised by biennially by the World Bank in Paris, France and 1.7 billion dollars was pledged for 2000-2001.
Other speakers at the forum including Dr John Abu, Minister of Trade and Industry and Nana Dr Kobena Erbynn, Director-General, NDPC, also commented on the low patronage of the forum.
Dr Abu, however, expressed the hope that the few donor representatives present would pass on whatever transpires to the others.
GRi