Accra, March 13, GNA - The Ghana Trade Fair Company (GTFC) on Monday expressed satisfaction with the organisation of the Golden Jubilee Fair which has just ended, saying it is the best so far in terms of participation and expectations.

The company said the fair, the 11th Ghana International Trade and Exhibition event, exceeded its targeted participation while it received the highest patronage since its inception 40 years ago.

Addressing the Fair's press corps on Monday at the fair grounds, Mr Ofori Amanfo, the company's Solicitor Secretary, said the main objective of creating the platform for the business community to interact was achieved and most exhibitors attested to that before it event ended. He said on Independence Day on March 6, about 100,000 people from all walks of life comprising families, the youth, students, school children and foreigners thronged the fair grounds clad in a variety of clothes designed with national colours.

Mr Amanfo said about 50,000 visitors were registered on March 7 which was also declared a statutory public holiday by President John Agyekum Kufuor to mark the celebration of the 50th anniversary of independence.

The Fair organized under the theme: "Championing African Excellence - 50 Years of Harnessing Ghana's Trade and Industrial Opportunity" began on February 21 and ended March 12 2007.

Giving a breakdown of the participation level, Mr Lawson Gidigasu, Technical Director of Fairs of the Company, said officially 1,068 exhibitors took part in the fair as against a projected figure of 1,000.

"This is the highest so far in the history of fairs in Ghana. Even the several unofficial exhibitors were not included because some came late."

Mr Gidigasu said 930 local companies were registered whereas foreign exhibitors fell to 138 as against a targeted figure of 200. He said Nigeria brought the highest number of foreign participants with 35 companies.

Participants from other sub-regional countries were Togo (22 exhibitors), Niger (17), Benin (4), Senegal (3), Mali (2) and Cote d'Ivoire (1).

Other participants were from Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Syria China, and USA.