Ato Sarpong – Deputy Minister of Communications
Mauritian investors have expressed interest in investing in Ghana’s information communication technology (ICT) sector, bringing in an initial inflow of $260 million to finance a technology park at Tema.
The technology park is to support academic institutions, industry and government with the intent of creating high technology economic development and unleash youth talent and creativity.
Mr Edward Ato Sarpong, a Deputy Minister of Communications, said this at a news briefing on Thursday.
He said the park, which would have a three-star hotel, training and recreational centres as well as basic facilities, is expected to create a minimum of 5,000 direct local jobs.
Mr Sarpong said the framework for the execution of the project would be finalised in few weeks for the commencement of the first phase of the venture.
He said while Mauritius is providing funds, Ghana was making land available and would facilitate work to ensure no interruptions in the execution of the project.
Mrs Mawuena Trebarh, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, said the Centre’s focus is on strategic investments with emphasis on showcasing Ghana’s ICT, tourism, agriculture and trade, among others.
She said due to the focus of the Centre it is now easier to pin point specific areas of investment, the kind of jobs to be created, technology transfer and quality of development.
Mrs Trebarh said the project would create an opportunity for communication between academic institutions and industry to access the best of talents, saying IT companies like Samsung would be on board.
She expressed happiness that a number of Ghanaian companies are participating in the investment opportunities created to enhance quality growth and development.
Mr Gerard Sanspeur, Chairman of Board of Investment, Mauritius, said the project is being guided by friendship, inclusiveness and sustainable development with anticipation that there would be a spillover effect.
He said a number of Mauritius companies are anxious to invest in Ghana, citing a sugar industry that is planning to invest in 20,000 hectares of land in the country.
Source: GNA
