Left to right: Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, Hon Oboshue Sai Cofie, Ernest B. Asare-Asiedu, Yaw Osafo Marfo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Left to right: Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, Hon Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Ernest B. Asare-Asiedu, Yaw Osafo-Marfo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Photo by Angeline Addy
On Monday, April 17, 2017, a team of senior government officials, led by Ghana’s Vice President, Senior Minister, and Minister of Finance, embarked on a trip from Accra Ghana, to London, then Washington D.C., and New York to share with Ghanaians and other members of the community at these respective places what the government’s plan is to revitalize the economy of Ghana.
The purpose of the Non-Deal Roadshow is to meet with Ghana’s bond holders, potential investors, US government officials and other key stakeholders to share the government’s transformational economic agenda to address the country’s debt, attract new investment and create jobs. The delegation will also participate in the annual spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
Ghana Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in photo by Angeline Addy
Members of the delegation included the Chairman of the Economic Management Team, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta as well as Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Marfo. Other members were the Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr. Ernest Kwamina Yedu Addison; the Chairman of the Finance Committee in Parliament, Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah as well as officials from the Finance Ministry of Ghana.
The rest are the President’s Advisor on Media and Special Projects, and the Deputy Minister of Energy, and the Minister of Tourism and Diaporan Relations in the person of Honorable Oboshie Sai-Coffie among others.
On Tuesday in London, the team held a series of meetings with Ghana’s bond holders to discuss the pillars of the government’s economic management agenda: revenue growth expenditure management, debt management, wage bill management and capping of earmarked funds to free up fiscal space. The delegation also met with the Ghanaian community at the High Commission to share the government’s plans for revitalizing the country’s economy.
On Wednesday in Washington D.C., the Vice President and Minister of Finance addressed an enthusiastic crowd of more than 300 in an event held by the Center of Strategic and International Studies entitled, “Spotlight on Ghana.” The audience was comprised of US government officials, policy makers, journalists, NGOs, members of the Diaspora, think tanks, and the private sector, also present was Ernest B. Asare-Asiedu; chargé d’affaires at Ghana Embassy in Washington D.C.
The Vice President presented opening remarks regarding the government’s immediate priorities to reignite the country’s economy by creating jobs in the agriculture sector, cutting taxes and removing barriers to investment and increased production.
The Minister of Finance was joined on a panel by John Rice, the Vice Chairman of the General Electric Corporation, and Alain Ebobisse, CEO of Africa50. The Minister presented the government’s strategy for addressing the significant budget deficit and debt inherited from the previous administration.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta also responded to questions from the audience by detailing the steps being taken to improve the investment climate in the Ghana and enhance local capacity by improving education, as well as enforcing local content requirements for new investments.
