Kumasi, Nov. 5, GNA- Ghanaian entrepreneurs have been asked to strive to protect the image of the country as a reputable investor friendly in order to attract more foreign investments needed for accelerated economic growth.

Miss Janice Bruce, Commercial Attach=E9 of the US Embassy in Ghana, made the call at the opening of a day's seminar on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) initiative in Kumasi, on Wednesday. It was organised by the American Chamber of Commerce Ghana, to build the capacities of entrepreneurs in the region to enable them to take advantage of the initiative and export their products to the US market.

Miss Bruce said Ghana was considered as an emerging market in the third world and there was the need to protect its environment and reputation to attract more investments.

She said Ghana was blessed to have a stable political environment, which could make it more attractive to investors.

Miss Bruce advised Ghanaian entrepreneurs to develop attitude of openness transparency and mutual trust for their partners to enable investors have confidence in the Ghanaian business community. She commended the government for taking steps to build support and sustaining the growth of the private sector in the country.

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, charged businessmen in the region to take up the challenge and embrace the AGOA to export their products to the US.

He said the region had a comparative advantage in agriculture and handicraft products and there was the need for entrepreneurs to focus their attention on how to package these items to meet international standards.

Mr Boafo said the government's investment strategy was to develop the private sector to enable it to expand and absorb the youth for employment.

Dr Gorden Asare Kyeremanteng, Advisor, AGOA Help Desk of the American Chamber of Commerce, said the seminar was also to launch the AGOA help desk of the chamber and assist exporters in the region who wanted to take advantage of the AGOA initiative.

He announced that the US government has directed all exporters of food and drugs to the US market to register their products with the US Embassy.

He said the directive was in conformity with the passage of the Bio-Terrorism Act, which was passed recently by the US senate.