In an interview with Bernard Avle on The Point of View on Channel One TV, Simon Madjie, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), acknowledged that Ghana's natural resources draw investors, but he emphasized the importance of diversifying investment opportunities into other sectors.
"As a country, we have our natural competitive areas, we have natural resources: gold, oil with these products, even if you are at war, it's not everywhere in the world, [they are still valuable], so you are going to get people to invest in those areas," he said.
He did point out, though, that Ghana needs to look beyond these sectors and find and encourage investment opportunities in every area.
We must figure out how to diversify foreign direct investment (FDI) in our nation's development by going beyond the ones with which we are inherently competitive. We need to map out the investment prospects in each of our districts, which will lead to regional investment opportunities, is what I and the team have been considering.
"Our local businessmen, who frequently feel abandoned, will benefit from knowing where the investment opportunities are."
Mr. Madjie thinks that by identifying possible investment opportunities and helping Ghana's missions overseas market the nation, such a blueprint can help local companies.
Additionally, it will aid in the promotion of the nation by our own missions overseas. If they have the information, the media can also promote the nation. We must hunt for chances and distance ourselves from those with whom we are inherently competitive.
We shall be able to market our nation to ourselves and potential buyers in this way. The Ghanaian president might consult a blueprint when touring the globe to entice investors, he continued.