with Empretec Business Forum, Ghana Export Promotion Centre Free-Zones Boar= d is organising a week-long Trade and Investment conference in Accra. The conference which is supported by the Ministry of Trade and Industry would be staged from February 8 to February 15.

It would hold exhibitions of African relics and products with the goal of co-operating with the African Union to unite Africa through trade. It would also create the platform for participants to fight against sporadic wars on the continent, market the economic potentials of Africa an= d provide the opportunity for the private sector to thrive. This was contained in a statement signed by Ms Lydia Yahaya, Chief Executive Officer of the Pan African Trade Fair Company and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

Ms Yahaya said the Fair which would be held in line with the United Nations Conference of Trade and Development would also emphasise the need for the creation of more jobs on continent, development of strategies to facilitate poverty alleviation and the unity of Africa. "Intra-African trade is a tool for achieving the broader continental objective of economic and eventual political integration=85 and also market the continent's vast opportunities to local and foreign investors." Ms Yahaya said the challenges of the continent were growing faster tha= n individual countries hence the need for concerted efforts in confronting the problems head-on to eliminate, hunger, disease, poverty and illiteracy and create the opportunity for co-ordinated development. The programme which would be held at the Accra Sports Stadium would feature popular musicians such as Kwabena among others. She called on all who believe in the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the promotion of trade among African countries to patronise the conference and exhibition segments. 1 Feb. 11