Plans are far advanced by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to make the maiden Home Coming Summit very successful.

The summit which is expected to take off from July 21 to July 28, will be under the theme "Home Coming, Rebirth of the Garden City" with an objective to bring both national and international focus back to the Garden City, Kumasi.

More than 500 Kumasi citizens living in USA, United Kingdom, Holland, German, Canada, Japan and some parts of Africa have confirmed to attend the week-long summit.

On the local scene, all the 13 districts in the Ashanti Region, foreign companies, timber industries, beverage companies have also expressed enthusiasm in the programme and have pledged to assist in its success.

The official logo of the programme has already been prepared by the planning committee chaired by the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Maxwell Kofi Jumah, who has adopted Ashanti cultural colours of yellow, green and black, as official colours of the programme.

Jumah told Chronicle that the Assembly is involving all stakeholders in business communities including Empretec, Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana Tourist Board (GTB), Centre for National Culture, security services and Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

Other programmes outlined include a Trade Fair at the Jackson Park, business conferences, seminars and workshops and photographs exhibition to depict Kumasi investment potentials.

This summit is expected to be bigger than last year's Ghana Home Coming Summit as there will be one shop where representatives of the important ministries such as Ghana Immigration Service, Ministry of Finance, Trade and Industries, Land and Forestry will be at one spot to process the required ways of all prospectuses in inventory order.

Security concern of the participants is under control as KMA has recently donated mobile phones and vehicles to the Police Service to step up its fight against armed robbers in the city.

A website is also being created by Computer Processing Centre (CPS) to facilitate free flow of information on the summit to other parts of the world.

The Dutch Airline KLM is the official Airline whilst New Era Press is also responsible for printing of handouts, brochures and conference materials.

The chief executive indicated that there will be a maximum of four conferences a day where investment opportunities in Kumasi will be the centre for discussion.

According to the chief executive, July 22, 2002 will be the official opening at Prempeh Assembly Hall. Between 22 to 26 July will also be workshops and seminars whilst 27 July will host a grand durbar of chiefs and people of Kumasi and the participants.