The Minister of Trade, Hon. Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku and Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, H.E. Mr. Isaac Osei, have visited 26 Ghanaian-owned enterprises in the UK.

The visit forms part of the Mission’s outreach programme which is aimed at forging and maintaining close collaboration with the Ghanaian community in the UK to encourage them to expand their businesses and invest some of their profits in Ghana.

The visit also afforded the Minister and the High Commissioner the opportunity to learn about the operations of the companies and difficulties encountered by them.

Accompanying the team were Mrs Marian Osei, wife of the High Commissioner, Mr Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Deputy High Commissioner and some senior officials of the High Commission.

The companies visited were GFM Radio-on-line, Cut and Paste Design and Marketing Agency, E. K and Emmanuel Hairdressing Saloons, Uncle John's Bakery, Black Star Records, Sam's carpet, Ahenfie and Oasis Restaurants, provisions and foodstuff chains at Kejetia, Asafo, Kotoko, GNTC, Ashanti Grocery and Kumasi Central supermarkets.

The rest included the West Africa Magazine, Africa Kenkey Factory, Homeboy Communications, CUBE Audio Visual sales outlet, African Majesty, Flight Travel Centre and Alpha Holiday Ltd.

Responding to concerns expressed by some of the operators, on the importation of fish and meat products from Ghana, Mr Isaac Osei advised them, to invest their profits in processing plants in Ghana which will fall within standards required by the European Union.

He said the establishment of such plants would break the monopoly enjoyed by the few companies certified by the EU to process the exportation of fish and meat products into the European markets and also remove current bottlenecks encountered by the retailers. It will also create employment opportunities and improve living conditions for their compatriots back home.

Mr Isaac Osei commended the businessmen for catering for the needs of the Ghanaian and African community in the UK and assured them of the Mission’s continued support for their endeavours.

He invited them to approach the Mission with their problems, proposals and suggestions to enable them discuss ways of pushing their businesses forward and called on them to explore the possibility of networking together to deepen existing linkages with a view to improving their service delivery in order to expand their businesses.

The High Commissioner announced that the Mission had initiated discussions with officials of the Ghana International Bank to impress on them the need to assist Ghanaian businesses with loans to develop and expand their operations.

On his part, the Minister for Trade, Dr Konadu Apraku said that now that the economy had been stabilised, the government was giving the private sector the necessary support for its development in order to realise the objectives of the "Golden Age of Business".

He underscored the need for the businessmen to draw on the experiences they have acquired in the UK and focus on setting up similar ventures in Ghana.

Dr. Konadu announced that government is making funds available under the Ghana Investment Fund to assist companies interested in setting-up export processing plants in Ghana

The heads of the various businesses expressed their appreciation to the High Commissioner and the Honourable Minister for the visit and pledged their unflinching support for the various initiatives taken by the Mission to bring Ghanaians closer to government.