This year’s edition of the ‘World Meets in Ghana’ Forum, which was successfully organized in Ghana in 2019, has been postponed to August 2022 – the organizers have announced.
E ON 3 Group, initiators of the event have attributed the postponement to the COVID pandemic, with Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City announced to host the 2022 edition.
Under the theme, “Exploring Investment Opportunities in Ghana as a Gateway to Africa”, the 2022 event, just like the maiden edition – is expected to target the key sectors in the country including Energy, Agribusiness, Oil and Gas Extraction, Mining and Quarrying, Banking and Finance, Aviation and Manufacturing.
Other sectors are Information (Media and IT), Real Estate Development, Business Process Outsourcing, Educational Services, Import/Export Wholesale and Retail Trade and Project Finance.
The idea is for participants to interact and discuss policies and programmes as well as positive ideas that generate vibrant businesses opportunities and help create wealth and improve livelihoods of people in all communities in Ghana.
The Group has also announced the touring of about 15 countries, including the US, Canada, UK, Germany, China, Turkey and the United Arab, Emirates, among others, to sensitize businesspeople about the 2022 event.
Mr. Richard Adjei Mensah Ofori-Atta, the Executive Director of E ON 3 Group, has said the ‘World Meets In Ghana Investors’ Forum and Executive Dinner Ball is an international event, hence the world tour.
According to him, it was appropriate and important for the Group to create awareness regarding the rollout of the programmes for the second edition across the globe in order to replicate the successes chalked during the maiden event in Kumasi.
He also said, prior to the world tour, his group would liaise with all the relevant government Ministries, Departments, Agencies, MDAs as well as industry players and identify their investment opportunities so as to connect them to the right investors.
Mr. Richard Ofori-Atta mentioned a 20-year vision of the ‘World Meets Investors’ Forum, would be launched during the 2022 event. The concept starts from 2022 to 2042 and seeks to spread business opportunities across the African continent.
According to him, the organizers of the event have also decided to rotate the host of the elite among the African countries to help fulfill the Group’s vision of spreading wealth across the continent through business forums. He stated that the next African country to host the 2024 edition of the forum would be announced during the 2022 event in Accra, after an open and transparent draw to select the next host country.
Dr. Francis Ashong-Katai, the Project Coordinator of E ON 3 Group, on his part, said Ghana has reaped several benefits, following the first edition.
He touted Ghana as a stable country with high democratic credentials, with sterling capacity globally to attract investors. In addition, he pointed out, the siting of the headquarters of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) in Accra adds impetus to Ghana’s credentials.
He noted that the E ON 3 Group has a strategic programmes to make Ghana the gateway to Africa in the area of business and investments, stressing that his group’s positive plans for the country was on the right course.
In his speech during the maiden edition in 2019, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, lauded E ON 3 Group for its vision to organize the forum, and stressed that, in organizations such as the World Meets Forum, the ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ agenda is sure to have its vision realized in record time.
“This forum will showcase Ghana as an investment destination and the gateway to Africa…Therefore thumbs up for the E ON 3 Group for contributing your quota to accelerate national development through business,” he said.
The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, in his succinct remarks, said the forum would give a rare opportunity to government to get the right and unbiased feedback, regarding government’s policies and programmes. This is necessary in supporting government to attain its vision of industrialization and resultant creation of jobs and livelihoods.
Prof. Tal Edgars, Group Executive Chairman GBSH Consult, on his part, said Ghana is among the top ten attractive destinations for business and investment, citing Ghana’s peace in a sub-region of instability as key in attracting investors into the state.
Mr. Edward Effah, the Chairman of Fidelity Bank of Ghana, also stated that the forum would definitely expose Ghana to the rest of the world and also attract the needed investors, thereby helping to improve the economy and create wealth.
The Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Elsie Awadzi, who was very brief in her remarks, highlighted the numerous interventions by her outfit, which has helped to strengthen the banking sector in the country.
Fidelity Bank, Barclays Bank (now Absa Bank), Access Bank, Bank of Africa, Exim Bank of Ghana, GNPC, GIPC, Ghana Gas Company, Goil , Ghana Free Zones Authority, Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry , B5 Plus Limited , Omni Diagnostic Ltd and Angel Group of Companies supported the 2019 edition
