Robert Tashima, Regional Editor of the Oxford Business Group (OBG), has noted that 2012 is likely to bring robust Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to Ghana�s economy considering government�s economic expansion measures.
Mr Tashima, speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between his outfit and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), aimed at producing a report tagged �The Report: Ghana 2012� recently in Accra, stated: �A number of new projects, including investments in the energy and infrastructure sectors, will help underwrite the country�s long-term potential � particularly for the non-traditional sectors such as manufacturing,�
�Ghana will still continue to serve as one of the continent�s star performers, thanks to a stream of commodity revenues as well as improved performance in the services sector.�
Tashima added that the expansion of Ghana�s banking industry, particularly the setting up of credit bureaux and collateral registry was likely to be instrumental in improving the country�s lending environment.
�This in turn has the potential to unshackle significant growth � particularly in the sizeable small and medium enterprise segments,� he said.
�Given the country�s continuing dynamism, The Report: Ghana 2012 will perform a key role in helping investors navigate the republic�s latest developments,� he noted.
It is also expected to chart the contribution that oil production and commodity wealth made to the country�s double-digit growth rates achieved in 2011.
It will further contain a detailed sector-by-sector guide for foreign investors, alongside a contribution from President John Atta Mills and interviews with other prominent political, economic and business leaders.
George Aboagye, Chief Executive Officer of the GIPC, in a speech, noted that Ghana�s growth rate was a testament to the country�s solid economic fundamentals.
�With a robust commodities sector and a stable political environment, along with a dynamic financial industry and an improving fiscal record, our country has enormous potential to offer investors interested in Africa, and we believe that �The Report: Ghana 2012� will further highlight that potential to the global business community.
Oxford Business Group�s long track record of researching and analysing emerging markets, particularly in Africa, means that readers can be assured of accurate and up-to-date information.
Polina Virr, OBG�s Country Director, said the report would play a key role in disseminating information about Ghana�s economic potential to foreign investors and decision makers around the world, elucidating both the opportunities and challenges of the country�s robust growth.
�With the country�s business environment having improved significantly in recent years, and with commercial oil production jumpstarting investment in the western region, The Report: Ghana 2012 comes at a critical juncture for Ghana�s economic development,� she said.
�GIPC plays a critical role in facilitating investment in the country and has extensive experience in analysing both the opportunities and challenges of the country�s economic climate. Its expertise and extensive resources will help expand our depth and scope of research, ensuring that the Group�s second annual report on Ghana will be the landmark reference for the foreign investment community.�
Oxford Business Group (OBG) is a global publishing, research and consultancy firm, which publishes economic intelligence on the markets of Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.