By Sunday Oyinloye
The image of Nigeria has continued to improve in Ghana since the posting of Ambassador Michael Olufemi Abikoye to the West African country last year, the latest being the commissioning of an ultra-modern hotel in Ghana. The hotel is owned by a Chisco Group of Companies, a Nigerian multinational firm.
Speaking at the commissioning of Villa Angelia Hotel, Accra at a ceremony which attracted the Minister of Greater Accra Regional Minister, Ishmael Ashitey and the Nigerian/Ghanaian business community, Ambassador Abikoye reiterated the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to promote economic co-operation between the two countries.
The High Commissioner urged the private sector of Nigeria and Ghana to invest in each other’s country adding that the good relations between both countries should be sustained in form of investments which he said would translate to jobs for the youths.
He noted that trade and investments are platforms to launch the two nations to greater economic heights and challenged the private sector to drive this for the economic growth and development of Ghana and Nigeria.
According to him, there are opportunities in the ECOWAS sub- region that both countries could tap into stressing that the private sector should explore those opportunities.
Abikoye commended Chisco Group of Companies for its investments both in Nigeria and Ghana stressing ‘’ we commend Chisco for investing in both Nigeria and Ghana, the company’s investment has provided employment opportunity for many and we implore Chisco not to relent in its investment drive within and outside Nigeria”.
In his remarks, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Ishmael Ashitey explained that tourism and hospitality remain veritable source of foreign exchange adding that the government of Ghana would continue to provide an enabling environment for the organized private sector to succeed.
The Minister however called on investors in the tourism and hospitality industry to always operate in conformity with the global best practices stressing that this is the only way they could get good returns on their investments. Ashitey admonished chiefs and family heads in his region to always be friendly with investors so that the Region could attract more investors.
Elated Chief Executive Officer of Chisco Group of Companies, Chief Dr. Chidi Anyaegbu in his address enjoined Business persons across Africa to invest more in the continent in order to create room for employment opportunities. According to him, provision of jobs for the youth would reduce insecurity and poverty in the continent.
Chief Anyaegbu commended the governments of Ghana and Nigeria for creating an enabling environment for business to thrive in the two countries and also commended the High Commissioner for being a worthy Ambassador of Nigeria
