The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) has called on the public to disregard false publications circulating on social media which suggests that the government paid for the flag lighting event held during the Dubai Expo 2020 on March 8, 2022.
Contained in a statement issued by the Center, today, March 11, 2022, it revealed that the lighting of the flag was for free and a sign of benevolence intended to honour Ghana and His Excellency, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) has noticed false publication alleging payments regarding the Ghana flag lightening on the Burj Khalifa on 8th March 2022 on various social media platforms. In no uncertain terms, the owner of Emaar properties, Dubai, decided to place our flag on the Burj Kalifa for free as a gesture of goodwill and to honour of Ghana and His Excellency President Akufo-Addo, during the Ghana Day celebration to culminate our participation in the Dubai Expo… We entreat the general public to disregard the allegations”.
GIPC statement
The GIPC equally expressed its appreciation and gratitude to the rulers and people of the United Arab Emirates for their “warm hospitality and goodwill” to Ghana’s delegation during the Dubai Expo Ghana week.
It will be recalled that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, left Ghana on Monday, March 7, 2022, to lead Ghana’s delegation to the Dubai Expo 2020. Following this, President Akufo-Addo delivered a statement on “Ghana Day”, on 8th March 2022.
Opportunities for Ghana at Dubai Expo 2020
Speaking after the flag raising ceremony to mark Ghana day, the President assured businessmen and women participating in the Expo 2020 in Dubai of Ghana’s readiness for business.
President Akufo-Addo explained that a number of bottlenecks had been removed to ensure the transaction of swift business in the country. He indicated that such tailbacks have been addressed with the institution of a digital address system and the Ghana card which helps easier identification.
In a bid to showcase Ghana as a country of limitless opportunities, President Akufo-Addo highlighted that, with Ghana being 65 years, it is determined to get it right in a sustainable manner. He indicated that prior to the entrance of COVID-19, the country’s GDP rate was 7%, a phenomenon he described as a catalyst for growth in the government’s transformational agenda.
Ghana, the President expressed, is committed to creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive, thereby growing the need of young people within the sector. He further noted that the country’s industrial transformation agenda, through government’s policies such as 1D1F, Digital Addressing System, Biometric registration of citizens among others, have yielded positive results.
Among other things, he intimated that Ghana currently is the largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment in West Africa and ranked 3rd in the Ease of Doing Business in West Africa.
Prior to the event, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Mr. Yofi Grant, stated that at the Expo 2020 venue, business engagements by the Ministry of Trade and Industry with its various agencies to meet a number of business people on the Expo ground would take place to discuss opportunities and collaborations with Ghana.
Touching on engagement with businesses from the UAE, Mr. Grant noted that, it would be the Centre’s main focus among other important meetings. He intimated that the Expo would also be an avenue for his outfit to attract key investors in specific sectors to the country’s economy and meet its FDI target.
