General News of Friday, 23 April 2004

Source: PUBLIC AFFAIRS, EMBASSY OF GHANA, WASHINGTON,DC

CNN In Ghana

The World Bank in collaboration with Cable News Network(CNN) will next week start the production of a financial and business T.V. documentary report on Ghana. It will tell the story of the success of the Ghana Stock Exchange in emerging markets.

The documentary, according to Mr. Ivor Agyeman-Duah, Minister Counselor of Public Affairs, Embassy of Ghana in Washington,DC will also look at the role of financial institutions like the Databank Financial Services, other brokerage firms and analysts in the economic development of Ghana under the segment, Ghana: Stock Markets and the Emerging Middle Class.

The operations of the Ayensu Starch Factory in the Central Region which serves as an interesting example of increasing economic growth by export through the value added process of turning raw materials, cassava into industrial starch, would also be investigated.

Mr. Agyeman-Duah disclosed this to participants at the just ended Howard County business focus on Ghana in Maryland, United States.

Under the general theme of Business Africa: Investment Frontiers, the documentary will also feature Botswana as it diversifies its economy and create a strong investment climate in the southern Africa region. With a soverign credit rating equal to that of Japan, Botswana is one of Africa's prime investment opportunties. The Other country to be covered by the documentary is Kenya

Mr. Agyeman-Duah said these three countries in the concept of the World Bank/CNN plan tell in different ways some success stories in Africa. Carol Pineau the American journalist specialising in Africa is producer/leader of the crew and has considerable experience reporting on economic issues in Africa, from emerging markets to how telecommunication is changing the way Africans are doing business. He also reports for Inside Africa, CNN's major Africa programme.

Carol aims to show in this documentary, 'An Africa that works, that is modernized and thrieving. An Africa where Africans greet challenges with their own solutions."