FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Sunyani
THE BONO Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa has called on both national and international investors to take advantage of vast agricultural fertile lands and tourism potentials of the Bono region to invest and help add value to iraw materials and create jobs for the people.
The Minister made the passionate appeal during the Bono Regional Investment and Industrial Transformation Forum in Sunyani yesterday under the auspices of the Ghana Investment Promotion Council now Authority.
The forum intended to showcase investment potentials of the region to both domestic and international investors brought together manufacturers, processors, poultry farmers, fruit processors, Municipal and District Chief Executives, assembly planners and coordinating directors of the assemblies.
It was under the theme; ‘Driving Local Investment- Unlocking Regional Potential: Mapping Opportunities and Mobilizing Growth in the Bono Region.
Addressing the participants, Joseph Addae Akwaboa was full of praises to the GIPA for recognising the economic potentials of the region and therefore organised the forum to attract investors to take advantage .
He believes the exercise will help the region meaningfully contribute its quota to the country’s industralization agenda and economic transformation.
He described the region as Ghana’s Agricultural Power House. ‘Our favourable climate, fertile agricultural lands, peaceful environment make it attractive destination’ he noted..
He asked investors to take advantage of abundant cashew production, maize, cassava, yam, maize, plantain, vegetables , citrus and other fruits availability to invest. .
‘Opportunities exist in food processing fruit juice production, starch manufacturing, edible oils, animal feed production, rice milling, flour production and large scale warehousing.
He did not leave out the livestock sector but ask investors to advantage in poultry production, cattle farming, piggery, fish farming, meat processing and dairy production.
Also is timber and forestry resources that can be turned into wood processing, furniture and sustainable forest based industries.
On tourison potentials, he mentioned Duasidan Monkey Sanctuary which is still underdeveloped and offered opportunities for ecotourism, the Bui National Park with diverse wildlife and scenic landscapes all providing opportunities for investment.
He therefore tasked all assemblies in the region to identify, document and submit the Investment portfolios that exist in their areas to the GIPA for onward showcase to investors.
‘Whether it is land availability for industrial ‘development, agro-processing, tourism, renewable energy, manufacturing, commercial agriculture, housing, mining surport services or logistics, every district must package this to the GIPA for onwards showcase to investors, he instructed.
The deputy CEO of the GIPA, Razak Baba in an interview explained that the need for the investment road show in the region is because out of $52b Foreign Direct Investment in the country, the Bono Region only attracts 0.1% so want to change the narrative.
‘The region has a lot to offer so want to attract some of these investors to the region’.
For instance, opportunities exist in the cashew sector in the region. Out of 80,000 metric tons produced annually, about 90% is exported unprocessed. This is unacceptable. There is need a lot of value addition.
He maintained investors need just about Gh 1.5- 20m to set up a processing factory so should take advantage.
He assured invrstors there are lot of incentive packages to be enjoyed when they come to the region. Example there is ten years tax holiday and after 10 years one only pays 15% company income tax.’ This is both for Ghanaianas and foreign companies.
Chairman for the forum, the Omanhene of Sunyani Traditional Areaa, Ogyeamansan Boahene Korkor II called on participants and Ghanaians as a whole to be disciplined in their lives to able to achieve national goals. He advised MMDCEs to collaborate with traditional councils to drrivre investment of their districts.