Accra, Dec 13, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor will next Tuesday launch the Ghana 2008 African Cup of Nations Business Club at the Castle, Osu.

The Business Club has been established by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the tournament to empower business decision-makers to profit from the opportunities offered through partnership for the competition.

President Kufuor will also inaugurate a 25-Member Working Group of the Club, which has the Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama as the Chairman.

Ishmael Yamson, of 3rd Horizon Associates, Albert K. Essien, Ecobank, West Africa, Alhassan Andani, Stanbic Bank Ghana and Elizabeth Adjei of Ghana Immigration Services are members of the Working Group. The Business Club is fashioned on the invaluable experience of the business club with examples from the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Magnus Rex Danquah, Chief Operating Officer of the LOC said in a release copied to the GNA Sports that the formation of the Club is part of various initiatives embarked upon to introduce and engineer a change in the relationship between sports events and the Ghana and Africa business communities.

He said the Club is also to create opportunities for real and sustainable positive alliance within the four venue cities, the entire country and the African continent as a whole. The Confederation of African Football (CAF), New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD), the Secretariat of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Private Sector Initiatives, UK Trade and Investment Unit, GIMPA Business School and the University of Ghana Business School among others.

Dr Kofi Amoah, Chairman of the LOC said 93membership of the Ghana 2008 CAN Business Club is open to all businesses with the cardinal objective of providing a platform to strengthen, empower and provide mentorship for small businesses to enhance their development=94.