Jacob Zuma pledges more support for Ghana
South Africa and Ghana have signed three bilateral agreements towards promoting trade between the two countries.
With these agreements, both countries are expected to exchange expertise and resources in the areas of trade, transport and energy. The two countries also agreed to deepen cooperation in the fields of science and technology.
This was disclosed at a joint news conference at the Flagstaff House Tuesday held by President John Mahama and his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma, who is on a three day state visit to the country.
Addressing the media, Mr. Jacob Zuma assured that his country will continue to increase business investment in Ghana including the oil sector.
He disclosed that between 2003 and 2013, South African businesses have invested over 60 billion rand in the Ghanaian economy.
“We have also agreed to further promote our economic relations. A number of South African companies have invested in Ghana which are significant and amounted to more than 64 billion rand between 2003 and April 2013,” President Zuma said.
President Zuma also added that “We [Ghana and South Africa] have also agreed to deepen preparations in the field of science and technology".
On his part, President John Mahama said it is crucial for the two countries to work together to remove difficulties on transportation and electricity supply to enhance the integration process Africa is embarking on.
"We are going to work together to put in the infrastructure that necessary to make travel between the countries easier," President Mahama stated.
President Zuma and his wife earlier visited the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Asomdwoe Park (Atta Mills was burried) where they laid wreaths on the tombs of the two late Presidents.
I have been doing much research regarding Ghana, particularly Cape Coast. I am always amazed at the number of powerful companies in addition to President Zuma's statement "2003 and 2013, South African businesses have invested over 60 billion rand in the Ghanaian economy" and other corporations have insisted that they too have put millions of dollars back into the Ghanian economy for development.
Yet, I find that the people and communities are living well below the poverty level in one of the richest Countries in the world, without proper basic public and private toilet facilities available to them. Prime real estate is lined with shanty businesses as Ghanians are struggling to make a living with low or no wages from these very businesses who say that they invest in Ghana!
However, they will not invest in the small business man and woman trying to make a living that line the waterfronts that would ultimately draw more tourist if their buildings and businesses were brought up to par.
My question is who then, do they invest in? Would it be companies who are members of PIA whose investment banker is perhaps one of their own, Standard Bank who holds tight the purse strings allocating funds to their own companies and NGO’s they have put into their pockets? Who are according to spokeswoman Julie Bleeker, Secreteriate at PIA put it, that these companies only invest in "ethnically like-minded businesses", rejecting offers to work in collaboration with community and tribal leader His Excellency HRM Nana Kweku Gyepi III, Akyempimhen of Oguaa Traditional Area Central Region in Cape Coast West Afrika stating that “All our projects in Africa are developed and executed by our members in collaboration with international organisations. Unfortunately, the PIA does not fund any external projects".
The World Bank has raised Ghana’s credit rating. If it was the large international investors responsible for the low credit rating in the first place, why don’t Ghanians qualify for loans? With the new resources in addition to the old resources being slowly depleted by foreign companies and Ghanaian are still poverty stricken, why won’t the World Bank extend loans to the Ghanaian government? Why wont they finance Small and local businesses within the community? To provide $10m grant for disease ‘surveillance’ to WHO, another international organization controlled by ‘big businesses’ is perhaps a ploy to make Ghanians think they are receiving something…
Yet, there are still not enough decent public ‘relief stations’, or sufficient electrical services, usable water or sufficient electrical services, that is in many communities, however, I am certain that their plush offices have plenty...Makes one wonder what the PRGF arrangement was all about and if it met its goals or if it got stuck in bureaucratic "ethnically like-minded" corporations. 
I would keep a very close scrutinizing eye on all investors, contractors and subcontractors coming into Ghana. You can rest assured that US, Tullow, Losmos is not the first to attempt to undermine the Legislative Instrument, which outlines policy in the petroleum sector and they will not be the last. All that glitters ain’t gold! Someone is blowing a lot of smoke and has been on the Afrikan Continent for the past few hundred years.
May G-D continue to have mercy on the leaders of Ghana! Bless the leaders and the people giving them grace and favor!
Hotep Light One Love!
Apostle Rubie James
Download with our compliments and sincere thanks for your support 101Things I AM FREE! 101 THINGS I AM also contains a glossary of terms and words used by the Apostle to quicken ones understanding of prophetic prose. (click on photo or above link)
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS
IN SUPPORT OF THIS MINISTRY!
No comments:
Post a Comment