The Vice President has called on prospective investors, particularly those from India, to take advantage of the increasingly business-friendly environment being created by government to set up businesses in Ghana.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has also assured the investor community of adequate protection and market for their investments and expressed Government’s willingness to engage with anyone who has genuine proposals.

The Vice President gave the assurance when a 16-member delegation of Indian businessmen, led by Ghana’s High Commissioner to India, Michael Oquaye, called on him at the Jubilee House on Friday.

The delegation is in Ghana to explore the possibility of setting up a 200 metric tonne oil palm refinery, a cocoa processing plant, a gold refinery and help with the Pharmapark initiative of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, according to Ambassador Mike Oquaye.

They had earlier called on the Minister of Trade and Industry, President of the Association of Ghana Industries, Board Chairman of the Ghana Export Promotion Board, Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Council and the National Coordinator of the One District One Factory Secretariat, the Precious Minerals Marketing Company and the Food and Drugs Authority.

Recalling the long and warm relations that have existed between Ghana and India since she gained Independence, including through the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Vice President Bawumia said the Ghana government was looking forward to further strengthening business relations through investments in each other’s country.

Describing India as a “natural partner” for the Akufo-Addo government’s flagship One-District-One-Factory programme, Dr Bawumia urged the delegation and their counterparts back home to help achieve the President’s vision of a Ghana beyond Aid.

“India is recognised globally as a leader in agriculture, ICT and pharmaceuticals and we in Ghana are looking forward to partnerships and collaborations, to our mutual benefit” Vice President Bawumia declared.

On his part, Ambassador Mike Oquaye stated that many more Indian businesses had indicated their preparedness to take up investment opportunities in Ghana, and he would be working with them to help achieve President Akufo-Addo’s development aspirations for the country.