President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has told investors that Ghana is open for business, assuring them of the creation of a conducive business environment under his administration.

The President reiterated this known on Friday when the Chairman of the Al Serkal Group, Eisa Bin Nasser Alserkal, together with a delegation of investors from the United Arab Emirates, paid a courtesy call on him at the presidency. 

In the presence of the Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, President Akufo-Addo noted that the topmost priority of his government is to create jobs for the people of Ghana, and, thereby return the country onto the path of progress and prosperity.

During his inauguration, the President said "the doors of Ghana are open again; there could not be a better opportunity to make it in Ghana. Ghana is open to business again.” 

“We rely on a vibrant private sector to spur growth and create jobs. It is time to imagine and dream again. Time to try that business idea; we will reduce taxes to recover the momentum of our economy," he added. 

At the meeting, President Akufo-Addo told the delegation that the industrialisation of the economy, with the aim of moving the country away from being dependent on raw material exports to an economy of value-added activities, and the revival of Ghanaian agriculture will be his main focus.

It is for this reason, the President indicated, that his government is determined to partner with investors and the private sector to set up strategic industries, with the aim of helping create jobs for the youth.

These strategic industries, he revealed, include an iron and steel industry, which will exploit Ghana’s iron ore deposits at Oppon Manso and Sheini near Tamale and facilitate the manufacture of machine parts and equipment.

Also, President Akufo-Addo said his government in partnership with the private sector aims to establish an integrated aluminum industry.

This he said would exploit the country’s bauxite deposits at Kyebi and Nyinahin; and also petrochemical industries from our oil and gas deposits from the Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa fields.

On his part, Mr Alserkal told President Akufo-Addo that the decision to invest in Ghana stemmed from his company’s belief that Ghana offered the right opportunities for investors in Africa, and they, in turn, will help develop the country.

Al Serkal is a business conglomerate based in Dubai, with a bouquet of companies in the fields of healthcare, manufacturing, petrochemicals, commercial and residential real estate, banking, mobile telephony and construction services.