The Chief Executive Officer of EIB Network, Nathan Kwabena Anokyi Adisi popularly known as Bola Ray has urged the Ghanaian media to push a positive narrative about the country.
According to him, the negative stories dominating the airwaves are inimical to the progress of the country.
Speaking at the UN World Pulses Day celebration, Bola Ray called on the media to reduce the excessive political discussions and work towards highlighting the success stories of Ghana, this, he believes will help drive home more investors.
“We should be pushing our local drinks in our restaurants and during events. That’s the only way we can showcase Ghana. According to the World Bank ease of doing business report for 2019, Ghana was rated the fastest economy in the world and we are not propagating that. Every morning it’s politics one way or the other NDC, NPP on our networks. I think that we should change the narrative a bit. We have great work to do in selling what we have, the good food that we have and on such days I wish that we trumpet all of these things.”
“We have known peace, we are very hospitable. Are we really relishing all of this or we are just driving the negatives? It is important for all of us in this room that as we leave here, let’s all propagate Ghana and especially with our relationship with India. Bring a lot of investors down to Ghana,” he added.
The 10th of February every year is celebrated as UN World Pulses Day. For the first time in Ghana the day was marked through the efforts of the India Africa Trade Council. The occasion is used to draw attention to the importance of pulses which are dry leguminous crops such as dry beans, lentils, cowpeas among others.
Bola Ray who was awarded with a citation for his outstanding contribution to the activities of the India Africa Trade Council and Ghana India relations in general pleaded with Ghanaians to promote local drinks some of which are made from pulses at restaurants, and events instead of the over reliance on foreign products. He further championed opportunities in the Agriculture sector in the country.
“We can do a lot in adding value. The value chain is important. Free Zones are there to help us. Let’s actually go out and sell that message. We have the labour here, they are trainable, and they are skilled. Also we have one of the most competitive minimum wages across the West African Sub-region and the highest literacy rate. We have arable lands. Agricultural land alone, 13.5 million hectares. We are contributing to Ghana’s export earnings. We are a vehicle for creating employment. Agric is giving jobs to our mothers, to our youth out there. Let’s trumpet it as the media” he advised.
Deputy Minister for Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Yaw Frimpong Addo who was the special guest of honour disclosed India has already been very supportive of Ghana in its agriculture drive. He however urged the country to do more in food crop production especially given the vast arable lands in Ghana.
Agriculture constitutes 20% of Ghana’s GDP and remains a significant provider of employment in the country. The deputy minister underscored the importance of pulses in satisfying the nutritional needs of Ghanaians especially infants assuring of government support through the planting for food and jobs in promoting cultivation of pulses
On his part, West and Central Africa chairman for India Africa Trade Council Dr. James Rajamani in his welcome address disclosed the UN set aside the day to support the cultivation and consumption of pulses as a sustainable system of healthy diets in line with the SDG goals
Indian high commissioner to Ghana H.E Sugandth Rajaram in his speech highlighted the close ties between Ghana and India since independence. According to him, Indian businesses made conscious efforts to sustain the supply chain to Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the special relationship between the two countries. He assured Indian businesses in Ghana will link their efforts to the national development agenda to ensure progress of Ghana
The event was graced by the Cuban Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Anette Chao García, the Global President of India Africa Trade Council, Dr. Asif Iqbal, Chairman of Kingdom Exim Group, officials of GIPC, ADB among others.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Ibrahim Alhassan
