India committed to partner Ghana for development- High Commissioner

Mr Sugandh Rajaram, the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, has reiterated the Government of India’s commitment in partnering Ghana for development.

He noted that India had been the largest development partner over the years with a lot of businesses in Ghana over the decades.

Mr Rajaram speaking at the Volta-India Business Networking meeting in Ho as part of activities to mark the ongoing Fifth Volta Trade and Investment Fair, said Indian’s interest was not only limited to trade but encompasses the holistic development of Ghana.

He said project implementation and infrastructural improvement in Ghana had received a major boost from India over the years.

Mr Rajaram said the Indian government was looking at prospects of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and seeing how the presence of Indian businesses would get smooth access to the markets of Africa.

He said the past two years had brought about strong and close relations both political and economic, ready to be transferred to regions of Ghana including Volta.

Mr Rajaram said discussions with the Volta Regional Minister and his team saw some potentials they intended to realise in the interest of Indian businesses, adding that India was also committed to capacity building initiatives of the region.

Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, noted that India had always offered support to the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) through capacity building for its staff and it was not surprising the VRCC was performing well to be judged the best nationwide.

He said the region’s partnership with the Indian Government as well as other African Embassies would attract Trade and Investment capable of turning around the economic fortunes of the region.

Dr Letsa said the region was becoming attractive through marketing efforts of marketing by its Brand Ambassadors and the people of the region.

He noted that the nature of the roads in the region would be addressed by 2022, adding that the region’s airport would also see some flights operating before 2021 ended.
Dr Letsa urged business owners in the region to take advantage of the Fair and leverage on it to help them grow and develop their businesses to enable them employ other people.

He said the Indian businesses were doing exceptionally well in the Volta region, although they faced some challenges that were being worked on.

Dr Prince Kofi Kludjeson, Executive Chairman of the Volta Development Forum (VDF), noted that development was possible with the right leadership, anything could be achieved.

He noted that about 20,000 hectares of land had been identified in the Volta region, which he thought every district should be allotted at least 1,000 hectares of land which they could develop.

Dr Kludjeson advocated for the need for land owners to be part owners of companies established on the lands they offered.

Mr Dela Gadzanku, the Volta, Eastern and Oti Regional Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), noted that the meeting was not only limited to Volta and India, but included other African countries.

The night also saw presentations from some Indian businesses including the Diamond Cement Group, M&G Pharmaceuticals Ltd, among others.