"Africa’s recent economic surge is fuelling optimism about the continent’s prospects and positioning it in the minds of many investors and businesses as a significant opportunity.
Blessed with a wealth of natural resources and a large, young and growing population, many economies in Africa are enjoying rates of growth and development that are the envy of the emerging world.
While sections of the continent still face steep challenges, Ghana is well placed to benefit from the forces of beneficial change in the region.
*Strong and sustained growth in recent years - with the country benefiting from high global commodity prices and continued political stability
*A youthful and better educated workforce, with half of the population under 20
*The emergence of a new generation of tech-savvy entrepreneurs. Ghana has one of the most developed telecommunications sectors in Africa, with mobile phone penetration surpassing the 100% barrier
*A concerted effort by the government to attract foreign investment and improve ease of doing business..
However, Ghana faces serious challenges too. Its economy remains vulnerable to external factors—in particular the risk of a slowdown in China, the global commodity cycle and high inflation.
The Ghana Summit will openly explore the risks and opportunities—tensions and compromises—that are facing this thriving global African economy. It will bring together over 150 leaders from government, business and finance who are invested or otherwise interested in Ghana's future."
The
Economist
Paulina says: I was busy minding my own beeswax when I
heard Ghana’s president, John Dramani Mahama and fashion designer and founder
of ‘Made in Africa’ Oswald Boateng mentioned in the same sentence – and was
like what ….is Mr Boateng getting into politics!!!
Thankful Oswald isn’t going into Ghanaian poli-tricks but
he is part of an elegant panel of movers and shakers including Matthieu
Pigasse, CEO of Lazard France/Africa (he’s the handsome guy France/EU sent to
advise “the Greek government on how to renegotiate its mountain of debt” thus I’m
thinking Ghana is in safe hands --laughter) and the currant Minister of
Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration, HE Hanna Tetteh at the upcoming The
Economist Events: ‘The Ghana Summit’ 2013….
Honestly….if I hadn’t just seen this must-go event
advertised on ABN TV Sky 290 I wouldn’t have a clue that it was going on... So
I’m thinking that it’s important that we all put it out there as I think it’s
one of the best things to hit the Accra metropolis in a long while…
Knowing that the world’s gaze will be on Ghana at such a
prestigious event is wonderful, but much more important is the opportunity to address
some of our economical shortcomings and hopefully, attract some serious
investments.
My only concern…….dot, dot, dot…. is our roadsssssssss,
but as these delegates are only going to be in what I call the triangle of fabulousness
---all those yummy areas/havens/postcodes that can be reached within 15 minutes
or less from Kotokraba airport, sorry Kotoka International Airport (KIA to you
and me) –they will be safe…Amen
