Mr. Ehud Barak – Former Prime Minister of Israel
Mr. Ehud Barak, former Prime Minister of Israel, has disclosed that, his visit to Ghana is to explore opportunities for investments in the Energy, Mining and Agricultural sectors of the economy.
He disclosed this at a durbar of chiefs and people of the Akuapem Traditional Area, organized in his honour at Mamfe-Akuapem.
Mr Barak said, Ghana is a country worth investing in, and hoped his days in Ghana would give him the opportunity to engage with many stakeholders in the various sectors of the economy.
Mr Antwi-Bosiako Sekyere, Eastern Regional Minister, said the country and the Region are endowed with a lot of natural resources which can be tapped into to generate income for the economy.
He said, the tourism sector can generate more income if much is invested into the sector, adding that as at the end of 2013, the country made 1.7 billion dollars from over one million tourists who visited the country.
He disclosed that, by 2016, the country expects to make over eight billion dollars from over four million tourists who would visit the country.
Mr Sekyere encouraged peasant farmers in the country to aspire to become commercial farmers, and to take advantage of the vast lands at the Afram Plains that can be cultivated, to turn the area into the food basket of the country.
Mr. Ernest Lomotey, Ghana Ambassador to Israel, was grateful for the visit and asked the chiefs and people to welcome the good intentions and opportunities the former Prime Minister intends to offer and tap into his rich experience.
Osabarima Nana Ansah Sasraku the third, the Chief of Mamfe was hopeful that the visit is the first of many things to come, and hoped the relationship between Ghana and Israel would be strengthened.
He appealed to the former Prime Minister to help link the Region and the Akuapem North Municipality to some investment portfolios in Isreal.
He said, Akuapem has the potential to become the tourism capital of Ghana and West Africa looking at the historical and the heritage sites in the area that, can be developed to attract international travelers.
The former Prime and his wife Mrs. Nilli Prieli, were given a kente cloth each to symbolize the rich culture of the country and a key on a stool which symbolizes an entry into the Akuapem Traditional Area anytime they are in Ghana.
Source: GNA
