Accra (Greater Accra) 8 March '99

The second ECOWAS Fair in Accra has been more successful than the first one held in Dakar, Senegal, in 1995, in terms of participation. This year's fair recorded 700 exhibitors as against 444 in 1995. About 525 of the exhibitors were from Ghana, with more than half of the rest coming from the ECOWAS sub-region. Other exhibitors were from the United States of America, China, Turkey and Iran. Some observers came from Germany. Thirteen countries out of the 16 member-states of the ECOWAS attended. Mauritania, Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau did not show up although they had indicated to participate. Preliminary assessment by the Ghana News Agency showed there was a big turn-up of visitors at the weekend. Items exhibited at the fair included textiles, light industrial equipment, plastic products, food and beverages. Others were plant and herbal medicines, furniture, alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. Most of the participants on Sunday described the fair as successful, but strongly criticised the preparatory and organisational aspects. Mrs Ellen Essilfie, Head of Organisational Services Department of the Volta River Authority (VRA), which participated, said some international institutions have expressed interest in the company. They include those from Israel, Cote d'Ivoire and Mali. Mr George Yahya, Managing Director of Evi France Ghana Limited, said the fair created the forum to make the right contacts for the expansion of his businesses. He said hundreds of contacts have been made and expressed the hope that they would materialise for the benefit of all sides. Exhibitors from the National Board and Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), said they got a lot of contacts and exposures. Mr Steven Atuliba, Public Relations Officer of NBSSI said basket weavers and batik dealers of the Board had made some international contacts. Officials of the Ghana Cocoa Board, however, criticised the fair for poor planning. and organisation The fair was turned into an entertainment carnival, instead of business activities, they said. They were also not happy about the frequent power outages during the fair and called on the management of the Ghana Trade Fair Company to procure a stand by generator for future fairs. Mr Vincent Uwegba, an exhibitor of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission described the fair as "outstanding".