The Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, has appealed for more Chinese investments in the Central Region to facilitate the transformation of the area as the government promote its flagship programme under the One-District-One-Factory concept.
He explained that though Chinese investment had been increasing over years in the country, same cannot be said of the region.
Mr Duncan made the appeal when the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Shi Ting Wang paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Cape Coast.
The visit was to enable the Ambassador to familiarise himself with activities in the region and to see how Chinese investors would invest in certain key areas.
Mr Duncan noted that, the region abounds in a number of resources that could facilitate the establishment of industries.
The region, he explained, was ready to partner investors to establish industries, saying, “We are committed to partnering with individuals and companies to develop this region”.
He, however, commended the Chinese government for its support for the nation’s development agenda.
The Regional Minister explained that, China after establishing bilateral relations has contributed significantly in ensuring that Ghana was not left behind in terms of development.
Mr Duncan indicated that a number of infrastructural projects had been undertaken by the Chinese government and mentioned the construction of the Kotokuraba market and the Cape Coast Sports Stadium as some of these projects.
He said that the Chinese government would be supporting the construction of boreholes to augment the expansion of potable water supply in the region.
He commended the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana for his role in continuing the work done so far to strengthen the existing relations between the two countries.
Mr Duncan called for the establishment of an exchange programme between students from the Senior High Schools in the region and their Chinese counterparts.
Additionally, he called on the Confucius Institute to liaise with Senior High Schools in the region in the teaching and learning of Chinese language and culture.
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Shi Ting Wang pledged his commitment to lobby Chinese investors to establish businesses in the Central Region.
He noted that, the region had arable land and other resources that could be developed for the total transformation of the area and the nation as a whole.
Mr Shi commended the current administration for the way it was managing the economy and said that, the country was on course to progress.
He stated the Chinese government’s commitment towards supporting Africa in shaping it’s development agenda.
Shi explained the Chinese government under President Xi Jinping was committed supporting the China-Africa Cooperation which he noted, was to promote the development and transformation of the continent.
FROM DAVID O. YARBOI-TETTEH, CAPE COAST