The Chairman of Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism has urged Ghanaian entrepreneurs to invest more in the local economy and be creative on the international market.

Mr. Carlos Kingsley Ahenkora said Ghanaian entrepreneurs and investors must invest in the country to support the economic development effort.

He said this at the media launch of the Black History Festival 2023, aimed at enhancing the appreciation of the cedi against the dollar.

The Black History Festival, is a festival celebrated to strengthen ties between USA and Africa. It is also an opportunity to commemorate the Black History Month which is an annual event held by the people of USA to celebrate their achievements, heritage and the contribution of the people of African origin in the USA.

The media launch ahead of the 2023 festival, was held in Accra to strengthen the ties between Africa and the USA.

The maiden edition of the festival was held in Washington, D.C. in the USA in early 2022. Following the success of the event, the organizers have announced that the second edition will take place in February 2023 in Columbus, Ohio.

Mr. Carlos Ahenkora expressed optimism about the initiative and advised entrepreneurs to use the platform to market made in Ghana goods and be creative about it.

“The last time I checked, some of the things we export as a nation are vegetables, and somethings like 'alata samina'. I think it is time for us to be creative with our goods we produce and export to the foreign countries. We are doing well with what we export but we can do better.”

Speaking to JoyNews, Coordinator of the Black History Festival, Stephen Selasie Asuo, explained that the festival is an opportunity for Africa to celebrate its people while “creating a bridge between Africans in the diaspora and Africans back home.”

He added that, “the festival will expose trade, investment, and export opportunities as well as bring more diasporans home. Beyond the Return gave prominence to Ghana, but the Black History Festival is going to give prominence to Africa as a whole.”