Berekum (B/A), Aug. 14, GNA- A day's seminar was organized at Berekum on Friday to sensitise the people in the district on opportunities offered under the African Growth And Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Mr Kwabena Kyere-Yeboah, the District Chief Executive said Ghanaians must embrace the initiative to expand their capacities and improve their standard of living.

He gave assurance that the District Assembly was committed to assisting interested manufacturers and food producers to help accelerate the development of the area.

About 50 participants attended the seminar.

Dr Gordon Asare Kyeremateng, AGOA Advisor, said the initiative posed a challenge to producers to come together and form associations to penetrate the American market.

He urged them to take advantage and utilize the 60 billion cedis market offered by the United States for goods produced in Africa. "AGOA provides numerous opportunities", he said and urged Ghanaians to utilize them to be able to get out of poverty. He explained that the Americans were interested in unique African products and asked interested people to contact the American Chamber of Commerce branch in Ghana, which has established an AGOA Help Desk in Accra to assist local and US companies to take advantage of opportunities that exist within the AGOA legislation.

"Essentially, the Chamber will assist to expand the export market base for Ghanaian products to the US market", he added. The American Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary association of professional and businessmen, working to create an environment where business could thrive between Ghanaian and American communities. It exists to promote commercial, economic, educational and cultural ties between the United States and Ghana.