Veep meets Vega Foods delegation

Page 47 (lead) September 18/2008

Story: Charles Benoni Okine

THE government has assured investors of the security of their investments in the country.
It said the peaceful atmosphere that investors had enjoyed over the years would not be compromised as the government continued to uphold the tenets of democracy, such good governance, rule of law and an appreciable human rights record.
The assurance given by the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama comes at a time when some investors are reported to be holding back their investments in the country due to what they perceive to be the unpredictable political climate prior to the crucial December polls.
In recent times, there have been heated debates and arguments, fighting, arson and rancour among supporters of the two leading political parties in the country namely; the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Speaking to some investors led by the Chief Executive Officer of Vega Foods Corporation Private Limited, Mr Vikram Chand, the Vice President said the government believed in a win-win situation where the investors would create job opportunities for the people, while they also made profit.
Among the delegation was the Chairman of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Mr B.T. Baba, whose committee was to benefit from a financial package from Vega Foods, dealers in Vega branded products in the country.
“We have known peace and the country is stable”, Alhaji Mahama said. adding that, “It is against this background that we allay the fears of investors who are skeptical about the security of their investment.”
He said the success of those who had invested in the country were a testimony for others to follow.
Alhaji Mahama said the country had a bright future and urged investors to take advantage of the opportunity in order to reap the benefit.
He said the government continued to invest in the education sector as a way of improving the human resource base of the country in readiness for the future of the country.
Alhaji Mahama used the occasion to advise the GOC to also make an effort to scout for people to engage in the lesser known sports.
“We have always concentrated on the bigger sports to the neglect of the lesser sports but like the experience we had with the weightlifter some years back, we could easily find people to do other things other than the football, athletics among others,” he said.
Mr Chand said Vega Foods was working to set up a foundation to support sports and education in the country.
He said having found Ghana as a safe haven since the company began operation in the country, it was necessary for it to share some of its profits with the people, hence the setting up of the foundation.
Mr Chand said the company believed in sports and was also poised to help the government, through the foundation, to improve the education sector and to build a more sound human resource base in the country.