... For 50th Anniversary Celebrations And AGOA
Ghana, the first Black African Country to be Independent is celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year. As part of activities to mark the occasion, Ghana will play host to the 6th African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum to be held from July 16-19, 2007.

The AGOA forum is aimed at bringing together all US business executives and potential investors interested in doing business in Africa to Ghana.

To benefit from the positive effects arising out of the synergies of these two events, the Embassy of Ghana in Washington D.C, has adopted a theme “Economic Emancipation” for its activities in the U.S

The Ambassador and his economic team are touring continental U.S.A to galvanize Ghanaians in the Diaspora and to network with business entrepreneurs to invest in Ghana.

The tour which commenced on January 1st, with a church service in New Jersey, has since taken the team to various states including Florida.

In Florida, Ambassador Bawuah-Edusei and his team interacted with the Mayors and the executives of the local Chamber of Commerce of the Broward County, and the City of Fort Lauderdale and was presented with the official keys to both the City and the County. The Mayors, who participated at their respective City Business fora, applauded the initiative and pledged their support.

As a result, the Mayor of the City of Fort Lauderdale, Mr. Tim Naugle, will lead a 20-man delegation to Ghana on February 23 to participate in Ghana’s 50th independence Anniversary Celebrations. Additionally, a US based company, CITPIX Inc, will be returning to Ghana in the second quarter to continue their program of setting up Information Communication Centers (ICT) in rural Africa.

The Ambassador and his team subsequently had a Town Hall meeting with Ghanaians in South Florida.

As part of the preparations towards the AGOA forum, Ambassador Bawuah-Edusei led a delegation from the U.S to Ghana from January 22 to 25, 2007.

Upon his return he again led a team of Ghanaian Business Executives to participate in the annual U.S National Breakfast convention from January 31st to February 1st where he gave a speech on “Investing in Ghana”.

The Ambassador and his team will continue their nationwide tour to California where they will participate in business networking with Hollywood celebrities on February 8.

In Los Angeles, the Ambassador will address the City Council on February 9, have a breakfast business promotion forum with the California Chamber of Commerce and then celebrate the 50th Anniversary with Ghanaians at a Town Hall meeting.

He will also pay an exploratory visit to the Silicon Valley to lay the foundation for the Ministerial visit to California in April.

Ambassador Bawuah-Edusei and his team will return to Washington D.C, to participate in a week long Independence celebration which will include a seminar, multicultural show, diplomatic reception, fashion show, medical self awareness, dinner dance and a unity Church Service comprising all Ghanaian churches in their 50th Anniversary clothing on Sunday, March 11, at the National Cathedral. He will also deliver a speech at his alma-matar, Howard University and then continue his tour with his team.

To climax the Independence celebration in Washington D.C, will be an award gala honoring the US delegation to Ghana in 1957. The new Ghanaian Business Council will also be featured.

The Economic delegation team will continue their tour to New England where they will visit Hartford and Worcester and meet with the Ghanaian community to commemorate the 50th anniversary in those cities as well as promote trade and investment. They will then continue to Delaware and Pennsylvania and then to the Midwest.

The economic team joined by delegations from the Trade and Finance Ministry in Ghana in conjunction with the US Chamber of Commerce will hold an Economic forum in Sacramento and Seattle from April 16 to 19.

This will be followed with a seminar themed “Brain Circulation” in April 27 to29 for Ghanaian trained doctors in the U.S which is being organized in collaboration with the Ghana-US College of Physicians and surgeons in Washington D.C

The tour rounds off with a trade promotion visit to Dallas and Houston from May 18-21, 2007.

It is hoped therefore that, these initiatives will attract more businesses into Ghana and also facilitate the formation of a Ghana-US business team to Accra for the upcoming AGOA forum in July.

The Embassy seizes this opportunity to invite Ghanaians in the Diaspora to participate in these events.