Take Advantage Of US President's Visit- Information Minister

Mrs Zita Okaikoi, Minister for information

Government has urged the business community, particularly the tourism sector to position itself properly to benefit from the historic event.

Mrs Zita Okaikoi, Minister for information told the Times in Accra in an interview. She said the impending visit of the American President, Barrack Obama, will benefit Ghana economically and politically.

For instance, she told the Times that the American President will be accompanied by a large delegation of business executives who will interact with Ghanaians to explore investment potentials, adding that there is therefore the need for Ghanaian businesses to be adequately prepared for the visit.

In addition, she noted that the visit is attracting an influx of tourists from across the globe which the tourism industry can take advantage of.

'The significance of the visit is both political and economic,' She stressed, adding that the impending visit shows that 'Ghana stable political environment and growing democracy has caught the eye of the world.'

The tour will be the first time Mr Obama will be visiting any sub-Sahara African country in his official capacity after his election as the first African -American President of the US last November.

Touching on the planned activities for the visit, the Information Minister said President Obama, who will arrive in Accra in the evening of July 10, will hold a breakfast meeting with President Mills and government officials, as well as bilateral talks the following day.

Thereafter, President Obama will give an address she said. At the Independence Square, where thousand of Ghanaians and other Africans are expected to turn out to witness.

From the Independence Square, the US president will head for Cape Coast, the Central Regional capital to visit historic sites including the Cape Coast Castle which was prominently used for the slave trade.