By Andy Fosu, GNA Special Correspondent, Equatorial Guinea

Malabo, Nov. 23, GNA - The replica jersey of Ghana's Black Stars striker Asamoah Gyan, was singled out for special admiration by the youth who visited the exhibition site at the third Solo Made-in-Ghana goods fair in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

The exhibition, which is being held in the country's capital, Malabo, will span between November 20 and November 30.

It is being organised by the Ghana Exports Promotion Council (GEPC) with the support of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and in collaboration with Bioko Commerce, Agriculture and Forestry.

Most Equatorial Guinean youth who had either heard of or watched Asamoah Gyan's impressive performance at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and his subsequent scoring spree with the European Football Club Sunderland in the English league, wanted to buy more of the jerseys than the number the management of Arms Clothing had brought to showcase at the Exhibition, Miss Kaausara Milkai, Managing Director of the company told the Ghana News Agency on Monday.

She said other jerseys that caught the attention of the youth included Black Stars players Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Dede Ayew. Miss Milkai stressed that the admiration that Asamoah Gyan's replica jersey attracted at the exhibition stand surpassed the rest of the players. At a colourful ceremony to formally open the Exhibition, Miss Akua Sena Dansua, Minister of Youth and Sports, told journalists she had flown into the country to sign a bilateral agreement involving the youth and sports on behalf of the Government of Ghana. She disclosed that at an earlier forum with President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, he extolled the high level of development that Ghana sports had attained.

Ms Dansua said the President had recommended that Equatorial Guinea's national football team should camp in Ghana in preparation for the African Cup of Nations tournament.

Speaking on the economic prospects, she said both countries stood the chance of benefiting from a bilateral agreement on trade, stressing that even though the country was endowed with oil, the Government of Equatorial Guinea was committed to opening up for trade partnership with Ghana. "Even though they have money, they need support in their developmental agenda. They see Ghana as a big brother who can help," she said.

Miss Dansua said that the Equatorial Guinean government was seeking support from Ghana to establish a National Sports Academy and to learn from Ghana to meet the challenge of youth unemployment, training and skills development.

So far, more than 18 companies and organisations have mounted their stands at the fair and more are expected to arrive from Ghana to participate. The companies included Domod Aluminium Company, Abu Brands Limited, Gratis Foundation, Reroy Cables, Chocho Industries, Kinapharma Industries Limited, Interplast and Greenspan Farms. The rest are Arms Clothing, Happy Home Day Care Centre, Continental Christian Traders, Cocoa Processing Company and Cyndy Sleek Designs. 23 Nov. 10