Friday July 17 saw the celebrations of the National Day of Ghana at Expo Milano 2015. The day began with the flag-raising ceremony in the presence of the President of the Republic of Ghana John Dramani Mahama (in the picture) , and its Minister of Trade and Industry Ekow Spio-Garbrah.
They were welcomed by Francesca Barracciu, Italy’s State Undersecretary for Culture and Tourism and Bruno Antonio Pasquino, Commissioner General of Expo Milano 2015.
At the end of the welcoming speeches, the “Ghana Dance Ensemble” offered a rousing singing and dancing show and then accompanied the delegations along the Decumano to the Ghana Pavilion, in the Cocoa and Chocolate Cluster.
Cocoa, Ghana’s ambassador to the world
Francesca Barracciu welcomed Ghana’s authorities with compliments on their presence in Expo Milano 2015. “The perfume which spreads from your Pavilion involves and delights visitors. Cocoa acts as your ambassador to the world, and you are the world’s second cocoa producer.
The cooperation and friendship which connects Italy and Ghana is a firm reality, and will continue in the future.” President Mahama declared himself “proud and honored to be here at Expo Milano 2015, on a day dedicated to Ghana. In my language I say to you ‘Aiko!’, meaning ‘congratulations on your achievement!’… you have worked wonders in the implementation of this Universal Exhibition, which offers us the possibility of showing our economy’s potential. We are the true cocoa nation, and we intend to increase the amount of cocoa processed inside Ghana.”
Ghana, a nation worth investing in, ready for growth
After visiting Ghana’s Pavilion, its delegation set in motion the “Ghana – Italy Business Forum”, in the presence of President Mahama. Aimed at convincing and involving Italian investors in Ghana’s economic development projects, the main issues were presented by Minister Ekow Spio-Garbrah, Francis Oppong, Deputy Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Molly Anim Addo, the Republic of Ghana’s Ambassador to Italy, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Deputy Ministry of Trade and a delegation of Ghanaian and Italian businessmen.
The event laid the foundations for creating an interactive platform with Italian investors to facilitate the creation of new economic agreements with a nation with a current annual growth rate of 7 percent. “Ghana exports more to Italy than our country imports from Italy”, affirmed Minister Ekow Spio-Garbrah. President Mahama praised the progress achieved in recent years, underlining the fact that “our country represents a model of democracy for the entire continent of Africa.
We are looking for investors to continue our growth.” At the end of the Forum, President Mahama visited Palazzo Italia, where he took part in the official lunch, in the presence of Diana Bracco and Francesca Barracciu.
