British Government To Transform Accra Into An Int'l Financial Hub

President John Mahama has struck a deal with the British Government to transform Accra into an international financial hub. At a meeting between the President and high-level British government officials including the Lord Mayor of London last week, it was agreed that Britain will provide Ghana with the requisite technical support to bring the idea into reality. Mr Felix Quakyi-Ofosu, a Deputy Minister for Information and Media Relations, announced these at the daily media briefing at the Flagstaff House, Kanda, Accra, on Monday. He said that the technical assistance was to engender a congenial business atmosphere in Ghana, and it would, therefore, require the provision of the necessary infrastructure and establishment of a regulatory environment and harmonizing business registration processes in Ghana. Mr. Kwakye-Ofosu said Ghana�s pedigree as a peaceful and democratic nation plus a stable micro economy had engaged the attention of investor from parts of the world to do business in Ghana. He said the British Assistant Minister for Business acknowledged that the country had the right climate for doing business and stressed his willingness to forge strategic partnerships with the relevant institutions in Ghana. The Deputy Minister said that the bilateral discussions between President Mahama and Prime Minister David Cameron would yield dividends as government was expecting to receive massive investments and revenue to finance the country�s developmental agenda. He said another positive fall out of the discussions in London was an acknowledgement of the government�s commitment to ensuring transparency in the management and utilization of Ghana�s oil revenue through the establishment of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act. The Deputy Minister said that while the government would play its part in creating the right atmosphere for businesses to thrive, it would not allow the country to be ripped off by foreign business concerns.