Accra, Feb. 8, GNA - President Jerry John Rawlings on Tuesday held talks with a 21-member US trade and investment delegation now on a three-day visit as part of a three-nation African tour that includes Nigeria and South Africa.

The delegation is led by the Reverend Jesse Jackson, US Special Envoy for the Promotion of Democracy in Africa, and its African tour is under the theme "Connecting Telecommunications, Technology and Media Markets Through US Minority and African Business Partnerships."

The mission will seek to assist minority business participants by providing enhanced visibility, market access and potential trade and investment opportunities in the telecommunications, technology and media sectors.

"The trip is to engage the African public and private sectors to promote increased competition, privatisation, market access and continued growth," a document on the delegation's mission said.

With President Rawlings were Mr John Mahama, Minister of Communications, Mr Dan Abodakpi, Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and Mr Kobby Koomson, Ambassador in the US.

President Rawlings said political instability in some parts of Africa had, in the past, prompted some foreign investors to make short-term investments in the continent. They made their monies quickly and moved out.

He said this kind of investment is not in the interest of Africa as it undermines the moral fibre of the society and leads to instability. "Thus, when this leads to conflicts in Africa outsiders do not understand."

President Rawlings said now the political landscape is fast changing in Africa as many countries are achieving political stability to attract investors. "Do not let the opportunity to slip by. We are now ready to stand on our feet. We need a little push to do things more efficiently," he told members of the delegation.

The President, who had visited the US on investment promotion a few times, told members of the delegation most of whom are in the telecommunication industry, "your area is important for us. Information technology is what we need to take off."

Mr Victor Gbeho, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said investing in Ghana would enable investors to reach the West African market with a population of 230 million.

"We have created an environment which is business friendly. It is the belief of the government that economics must improve the life of people," he said. Rev. Jackson said the delegation is focussing on telecommunication because the sector is important for the development of the continent, adding that Africa has "missed much of the telecommunications infrastructure."

He said the trip is a fulfilment of promises made by President Bill Clinton during his African tour and follow-up talks with President Rawlings, President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa.