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the negative long-term impact the
FIVE TOP SECTORS marketing campaign might have on
Go-to Ghana making Services that is not lost on Jemima Nunoo,
FOR INVESTMENT
local businesses in the area, a reality
lecturer at the Ghana Institute for
With many industries rapidly
expanding across the country, Management and Public Administration
(GIMPA) Business School.
all the right moves be a catalyst to Ghana’s growth. it’s something we are facing now, but
foreign investment in this area could
She explains: “Yes, it is a problem,
it’s not insurmountable. I think we
should establish partnerships to ensure
Industrial
Following the government’s ‘One
District, One Factory’ policy in 2016, Ghanaian companies are involved,
and we need to have policies and if
there is a lot of scope and support for necessary, legislation to make sure
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park manufacturing and mass production. Ghanaian companies are involved.”
Jemima symbolises what the
for them, you could even provide Transport President is trying to achieve. She was
minibuses for ‘tro-tro’ drivers, who are As Ghana approaches the middle- born in Manchester and shortly after
the equivalent of bus drivers, because income threshold, a significant level completing her PhD at the University
it’s more expensive to buy a minibus in of investment is needed to help the of Nottingham she decided to explore
Ghana than in the UK.” country meet its transport demands, career opportunities in Ghana. Despite
He also provides Ghanaian with road and rail being key areas. her achievements in the UK, she started
investment opportunity seminars in to feel there was only so far she could
the UK and says he has seen a growing Tourism go as a black academic. Now, she’s
appetite among young professionals to As tourism booms there are many able to use her skills and experiences to
invest in the country: “The age group I opportunities for development in the contribute to Ghana’s economy.
target is late-20s to very early 40s. That hospitality industry as well as with She is part of the growing number
age group has a lot of cash they’re not landmark projects the government of British Ghanaians who have left the
using and we’ve seen people transfer has in the pipeline. comforts of their lives in the UK to go
around £4k to £5k each.” ‘back home’ and since her move in
Jeffrey’s sense is that this interest will Property 2009 she has never looked back. But
increase following the Year of Return: This has been an area of growth for she has some advice to those wanting
“It’s really marketed Ghana and set a a long time but with construction to invest or work in the country:
foundation. People who have never booming in areas like Accra, there are “Manage your expectations. Ghana is
been there before are asking about it. still many returns to be had. fantastic but it takes grit and things
I know there are many people in the don’t happen all at once.”
diaspora who now have plans to go It would appear the Year of Return
there in the next five years.” Greenwich Meridian and the equator has paved the way for Ghana to be the
Divine also sees the Year of Return is meet, making Accra the nearest hub of tourist activity in West Africa
an opportunity to raise Ghana’s profile habitable place to the centre of the and the President’s dream to quadruple
as a place to invest, through many world. We want to create a park similar visitor numbers may, in some small
up-and-coming or existing tourism to the one in Greenwich, London. way at least, be unfolding. It’s also clear
opportunities: “We have the Marine “We’d also like to build a boardwalk Ghana has a number of opportunities
Drive Project which offers opportunities between Cape Coast Castle and Elmina for the foreign investor, and the Year of
to invest in beachfront apartment Castle and there are also investment Return and the subsequent activities
hotels, casinos and restaurants in the opportunities in the Kakum National may have been the catalyst needed to
middle of the capital. There is also the Park and many three to five-star hotels.” attract those with a hunger for investing
Centre of World Project where the Concerns have been raised about growing vibrant markets.

Elmina Castle

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