Enquiries about Ghana?s investment potential have increased in Australia during the last few months, according to the Ghana-Australia Business Council. The council attributes the increase to President Kufuor?s initiative to market Ghana as a safe haven for investment during his trips to Australia and Asia. The Ghana-Australia Business Council helps establish trade and business links, promote investment, technical and economic co-operation and foster friendship and cultural understanding between Ghana and Australia. After President Kufuor?s visit to the region, the Council?s President, Mr. Henry Antwi has co-ordinated a series of Trade Missions to Ghana.

Mr. K. R. Krishnamurthy, an Indian Mining Consultant recently led a delegation to explore investment opportunities in the mining sector in Ghana. The delegation met with the Minister for Mines, Hon. Adjei Darko, officials of the Minerals Commission and other businesses in Ghana. Mr. Krishnamurthy expressed optimism that there will be investment flow from India to Ghana as a result of the visit and emphasised that the delegation was impressed with the developments in the country.

The Indian Company of Bharti Telesoft, the software venture of Bharti Enterprises, the largest Telecom player (GSM, Basic, ISP, SDMA, Broadband) in India also visited Ghana from 9 December to 11 December. The company is working in conjunction with Australia-Ghana Investments company (AGI) to invest in the communication sector in Ghana. The delegation, led by Mr. Shankar Roddam (Bharti Telesoft) and Mr. Thomas Osei (AGI) met with Hon. Kwamena Bartels (Minister for Private Sector Development), Hon. J.H. Mensah (Senior Minister) and Dr. Somuah of the President?s office. Mr. Thomas Osei described the discussions as fruitful and indicated that Bharti Telesoft and AGI will be finalising a business package for discussion with Government Officials by the end of the year.

On 14 December, the Australia Ghana Investment Company met with a Chinese delegation in the Australian City of Sydney to discuss partnership arrangements to invest in pharmaceuticals production, information technology and resource based industrialisation in Ghana. The discussions were led by Dr. Eric Owusu Sekyere (Australia-Ghana Investments) and Dr. Bruce Lin on the Chinese side. Mr. Charles Agyeman Manu of the Ghana Australia Business Council spoke about Ghana?s investment potential and the political climate and impressed on the two companies to accelerate their investment plans to establish manufacturing companies in Ghana. He also impressed on the delegation to use Ghana as a gateway to expand their products into the African market. Dr. Lin suggested that the Chinese delegation and AGI make plans to visit China and Ghana after the initial feasibility work is completed.

The Ghana High Commissioner Designate to Australia, Dr. Adjei Barwuah has been very supportive of the efforts of the Ghana Australia Business Council and will join in a series of meetings with Financiers and Businesses in Sydney and Canberra. The High Commissioner has recently initiated a promotional drive to assemble the skill base of Ghanaians resident in Australia and New Zealand with the objective of tapping on these skills for the betterment of Ghana. There are about 5,000 Ghanaians resident in the Australian City of Sydney.