Accra, April 27, GNA - Three multinational companies have signed on to the 1st Ghana Auto Expo, an exhibition of automobiles and auto parts scheduled to take place at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre from May 14-16, a statement from the event organisers, Business and Financial Times (BF&T), said on Monday. The statement said oil marketing and telecom giants, Total and Zain respectively, sealed a place as main sponsors, while automobile dealer, Universal Motors secured itself as gold sponsor. Joy FM and Yetron services are media partners for the event. The three-day exhibition, which will run on the theme "Making the Right Automotive Choices to Ensure Safety on our Roads", has been formally launched by the Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah. The statement quoted Mrs Edith Dankwa, Executive Director of BF&T, as saying so far about 85 per cent of the exhibition spaces had been taken and they expected to have the place fully booked by the end of April.

She said companies that had secured exhibition space so far were dealers of new vehicles, manufacturer's representatives and dealers in auto parts and accessories, banks which provided auto loans, insurance companies and oil marketing companies. Mrs Dankwa said the event is expected to attract automobile enthusiasts, corporate buyers and the general public. "There will be premiering of latest models of vehicles by some automobile dealers and visitors to the event will be given the rare opportunity of test drives," she said. She said a "Vintage Car Show" will also feature as side attraction where vehicle models of the 1970-80s in serviceable condition, would be on display. "The exhibition is intended to sensitize owners and users of vehicles in Ghana on the need to buy automobile specifications that meet local climatic conditions and also use genuine auto parts to ensure safety on our roads," the statement said. 27 April 09