Accra, Nov. 21 GNA - A 48-member business delegation from Chicago, United States, which is in the country to explore investment opportunities, on Monday paid a courtesy call on President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Castle, Osu.

They are into finance, banking and commerce, the real decision makers in corporate America, and were led by Ghanaian Professor Samuel Akainyah, who has lived in the US for the past 25 years. President Kufuor told the delegation that Ghana was full of business and investment opportunities with its strategic location offering an unparalleled advantage that should be capitalised on. The country also has tourism potentials as good as could be found anywhere in the world.

President Kufuor said with its law-abiding, intelligent and hardworking people, Ghana was an ideal place, adding that the market in West Africa was equally good, looking at the Sub-Region's population of more than 200 million people.

President Kufuor said the Government was making every effort to open up the country to investors particularly Africans and people of African descent.

He praised Professor Akainyah for the investment drive and said the fact that he was able to bring down the delegation gave testimony that he had conducted himself so well to attract the attention of society. Professor Akainyah said the decision by the delegation was a fruit borne out of President Kufuor's recent State visit to the US during which President George Bush described Ghana as a model of democracy.