France ready to establish more businesses in Ghana

The French Ambassador to Ghana, Frederic Clavier has expressed his country's readiness to establish more businesses in the country under the French Chamber of Commerce.

Speaking during a tour of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem mine at Tarkwa in the Western Region, he said Ghana has proven to be one of the perfect investment destinations in the sub-region.

Ambassador Clavier said given the long standing relations between the two countries, France was ready to partner with institutions in Ghana to foster its socio-economic development.

He said some of the areas of social and economic cooperation in Ghana include education, science and technology.

He said the time had come for institutions of higher learning in the extractive sector in the country to produce more expertise with technical know-how to enable those with the needed competencies to grab opportunities in the sector.

He also commended the partnership between AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem mine and the University of Mines and Technology over the years, saying that the combination of academia and industrial practice was a step in the right direction.

This venture, he said, would ensure that products of the institutions were ready for the demands of the industry.

The Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem mine Sicelo Ntuli, reiterated the company's commitment to improve the lot of communities in which it operates.

He said aside the cooperation with institutions, the company had established several social interventions for the betterment of the people in its host communities.

Mr Ntuli indicated that the mine would welcome any opportunity to partner with the French Embassy through its development agency in contributing to the sustainable development of Tarkwa and its environs.

He said it was very important that as a responsible mining firm they were committed to fostering close collaboration between the company and its hosts as they create and share.

The ambassador and his delegation later toured the on-site installation of a French company which suppliers fuel to the mining companies in and around Tarkwa.

The delegation included the Head of Cooperation and Cultural Affairs of the French Embassy, Paulo Pais, Cultural Cooperation Attaché, Anne Marie Coeveltn and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology, Professor Jerry Kumah.

The visit is a follow up to a tour of some investments in the Twin-City of Sekondi/Takoradi where she toured some French companies and announced support for Takoradi International Company (TICO).

Story & Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Iduapriem
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