Turkish delegation arrives in Ghana to explore investment prospects

A delegation from Turkey is set to explore investment prospects in Ghana's agriculture and the health sectors with Ghanaian partners.The 10-member delegation comprising of academicians, finance experts, health professionals and entrepreneurs, will undertake a series of feasibility assessment to identify the aspects of health and agriculture that require investment.The visit also forms part of the series of assessments to unlock a $100 million investment fund for the two sectors from Turkish investors.Dr. Zerrin Gelik, a gynaecologist, and leader of the delegation lauded the cordial relationship between Ghana and Turkey, emphasising its strengthening to engender economic growth and development.She said the preference for Ghana as an investment destination for the delegation was influenced by the exploits of the country in the health sector and the competence of their Ghanaian counterparts.'There are many countries in Africa but we choose Ghana because we have seen that the country has really achieve d quite a lot in the health sector; but this partnership would do more in that regard,' she noted.'One other consideration, which influenced our decision to come to this country was the competence and dedication of our business partners in Ghana. 'We believe a collaboration with them would enable us to construct more hospitals and do more agricultural projects in the country.'Dr. Gelik stressed that the partnership would improve Ghana's agriculture sector, adding that facilitating the attainment of food security by Ghana remained top on the agenda of the delegation.Mr. Ohene Kwame Frimpong, entrepreneur, and a partner, said the collaboration between the parties in agriculture would address the peculiar needs of some prioritised communities, especially Asante Akyem Agogo.He said the partnership would afford a learning opportunity to the Ghanaian side to wean Ghana from its rain-fed agriculture to a modernised system of irrigation.'Turkey does not have the kind of favourable weather we have here in Gh ana but they are able to do their farming and do not experience any shortage of food. There are proper irrigation projects in Turkey to boost their farming.'Eventually, if we are bringing them here to Ghana then whatever they are doing in their country will be replicated over here by us, their partners here,' he said.Mr Frimpong said the project would enable the partners to leverage on Ghana's arable land potential to improve food security and reduce food imports.The delegation, which arrived on Sunday, September 8, will depart Accra on Tuesday, September 10.Source: Ghana News Agency