View Full Version : Ghana is a beacon of success - Virgin Group's Founder


Matthias Offodile
March 1st, 2010, 07:24 PM
Ghana is a beacon of success - Virgin Group's Founder




Last Updated: Saturday, 27 February 2010, 22:30 GMT Previous Page



Mr Richard Branson, Founder and Chief Executive of the Virgin Group, a British venture capital conglomerate, has noted that "Ghana is a beacon of success in the sub-region" and should capitalize on her successes to transform society.

He said the country's institutions had significantly improved with favourable business climate and competitive market, making her to be more attractive to investors.

Mr Branson made the remark in a pre-recorded presentation played to participants at the just ended Opportunities Conference 2010, organised by Forethought, an indigenous events management firm in Accra.

His presentation was on the topic: "Effective Strategisation in a Competitive Global Market, how to Succeed in times of Adverse Challenges".

The two-day conference themed "Shifting Paradigms, Shaping Possibilities" and sponsored by Zain Ghana, was to identify Ghana's business opportunities and empower participants on how to create wealth out of those opportunities for the development country.

It was addressed by personalities drawn from the corporate, academic and public sectors, who spoke on wealth creation through entrepreneurship and innovation.

Conference participants included people from academia, students, entrepreneurs and business leaders from all sectors of the economy.

Mr Branson said with a favourable business climate, Ghanaians should rise up to challenge and healthily compete with other business interests in order to enable them to enjoy gains of the country's success story.

He advised especially young entrepreneurs not feel daunted by competition but to persevere adding that the beginning of every endeavour was challenging but those who pushed through became victors.

Using himself as an example, he said, despite the global economic meltdown, he had been working to launch an airliner called Virgin Atlantic on the Accra - London route by spring this year.

Mr Kwame Pianim, an Economist and Business Consultant observed that "The economy of Ghana in 2010 is at a historically defining moment with the oil find of 2007."

Mr Pianim explained that the opportunities, which the oil sector would offer would be enormous and expressed the hope that they would help to propel the country into an era of accelerated and sustainable transformational development.

Ms Joyce Aryee, Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Mines said many natural resources such as Mica, Marble, Clay and Salt which had huge revenue base were under-exploited.

She, therefore, called for a carefully re-evaluated programme to mine such resources for the benefit of the country.


Source: GNA

http://news.myjoyonline.com/business/201002/42768.asp

popa1980
March 1st, 2010, 08:51 PM
And the economy is predicted to grow 22% on the back of ONE single oil well next year- 2 other large oil fields havent even been developed yet. The question will remain if Ghana goes down the way of Nigeria or has repsonsibe resource-management aka Norway/Botswana.

Xusein
March 1st, 2010, 08:54 PM
I want to see more progress before saying that it is a "beacon of success".

I hope for the best though, Ghana is one of my favorite nations in Africa.

BUTEMBO21
March 1st, 2010, 08:58 PM
And the economy is predicted to grow 22% on the back of ONE single oil well next year- 2 other large oil fields havent even been developed yet. The question will remain if Ghana goes down the way of Nigeria or has repsonsibe resource-management aka Norway/Botswana.



We have to wait and see, if Ghana will be different from Nigeria and other Oil giants.

Oil, minerals are very addictive and are sweeter than sugar, we from Minerla and Oil countries can tell you that.

It's inevitable, there will be lots corruptions. But the question remains . Would they deliver?

popa1980
March 1st, 2010, 09:00 PM
We have to wait and see, if Ghana will be different from Nigeria and other Oil giants.

Oil, minerals are very addictive and are sweeter than sugar, we from Minerla and Oil countries can tell you that.

It's inevitable, there will be lots corruptions. But the question remains . Would they deliver?

I can cope with Asian-style corruption and Angola-style corruption- you know, where things still get done but a few percent is paid in kickbacks. But not Nigerian-style corruption where funds for ENTIRE multi-million projects dissapear into Swiss accounts.

Xusein
March 1st, 2010, 09:01 PM
I think that so much hope and anticipation is put upon Ghana that I think that it won't screw up and disappoint. It's not some ignored backwater like Chad (which disappointed many when it had it's own oil boom a few years ago and spent it on weapons). If it screws up, it will unfortunately ruin the image of Africa as a whole further than it is now.

popa1980
March 1st, 2010, 09:05 PM
Yeah, if Ghana screws up, then I dismay at other African nations if they find oil. Lets see how things go within the next 5 years we will have a good idea.

Matthias Offodile
March 1st, 2010, 09:26 PM
I want to see more progress before saying that it is a "beacon of success".

I hope for the best though, Ghana is one of my favorite nations in Africa.

You have, Xusein!

two peaceful tranfers of powers, not even over-hyped Botswana can show that to the world where a family dynasty runs the country although it joyfully brags about being the only true democracy in Africa.

I have a lot of confidence in Ghana as well as Angola and Senegal.