The Lolobi-born Franklin Cudjoe, One of the fierce critics of the John Mahama government, has announced his membership of a Ghanaian business delegation to the Latin American country of Mexico to explore investment and business opportunities.
The trip slated from May 21-27, will see the Ghanaian business mission composed of 10 businessmen, led by Mrs. Mawuena Trebarh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC), delving into sectors, such as automotive, airport services, advertising, construction, agriculture agro-food processes good and trade.
A statement issued in Accra yesterday and sent to The Herald by Mr. Cudjoe himself, said “the Ghanaian delegates are expected to meet with potential Mexican partners and Mexican chambers of commerce and industries of the related sectors”.
It is not yet clear, whether GIPC, which is under the Office of the President, is sponsoring Mr. Cudjoe’s travelling expenses, including hotel, food, entertainment and pocket money.
It is also unclear, how the state will benefits from Mr. Cudjoe’s membership of the business delegation, as he has acted more than political opponent of the Mahama government, than a business oriented individual. He has played lead roles in the anti-government group; OccupyGhana.
Indeed, Gabby Asare-otchere Darko, somewhere last year, publicly praised him and IMANI for doing a job, which the Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP), had failed to do for Nana Akufo-Addo creditably.
Yesterday’s statement had mentioned that on “Wednesday May 11, the Ambassador of Mexico to Ghana, H.E. Maria de los Angeles Arriola, offered at Mexico’s Official Residence a reception to the members of the First Ghanaian Business Mission to Mexico, in the framework of a business mission visiting three countries of the Pacific Alliance, which will include as well Colombia and Peru”.
It said “during their stay in Mexico City – the capital city of the second largest economy in Latin America and one of the twenty biggest economies of the world-, the Ghanaian mission will participate in the 2nd Mexico-Africa Business Forum organized by the Mexican business promotion agency PROMEXICO, in the frame of the Week of Africa in Mexico hosted by the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs”.
The statement disclosed that “in reciprocity to the Ghanaian mission to Mexico, during the month of June, PROMEXICO (counterpart of GIPC) will lead the First Mexican Business Mission to Ghana, composed by an equivalent number of prominent Mexican businessmen and investors”.
These missions are the results of common efforts done by the GIPC and the Embassy of Mexico at just one year of the full opening of the mentioned diplomatic mission in Accra, and its target is to strengthen the economic ties between both countries who are called to turn two main actors in the economic global growth in the following years.
The statement in addition said the IMANI boss, Franklin Cudjoe while on trip will give a 20 minute keynote speech on “Africa in the 21st Century” to all participants in the 2nd Africa- Mexico Business Forum.
“Mr. Franklin Cudjoe will also speak in the main academic forum of leading Mexican educational institutions, researchers, scholarship fund managers, adding “Mr. Cudjoe will meet with the Mexican Agency for Cooperation and International Development: AMEXCID”
Mr. Cudjoe, “Will meet with the Mexican Association of Universities: ANUIES and Mexican Council for Science and Technology: CONACYT to discuss scholarship opportunities for African students as well as discuss student exchange programmes”.Ghanapoliticsonline.com
“Mr. Cudjoe is tentatively scheduled to meet former Mexican President, Vicente Fox. It will be the second time the two will be meeting after their first in Porto Alegre in 2009”, the statement said.Ghanapoliticsonline.com
Mr. Cudjoe claimed he will be briefing the first Mexican Business Delegation on the state of affairs in Ghana when they visit Ghana on June 9, 2016.
His statement to The Herald was silent on the role of the GIPC boss, Mrs. Mawuena Trebarh on the trip.
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