President John Evans Atta Mills has assured Japan of Ghana's readiness for a new partnership that would engender growth and promote increased prosperity for their peoples.
He praised Japan for its highly skilled manpower and technology and said Ghana trusted her as a true and reliable friend, on whom she could count for partnership and transfer of technology in efforts to develop the vast natural resources and build a better life for her people.
Addressing a Ghana-Japan business forum in Tokyo, Japan, President Mills assured investors that Government had created the enabling environment, not only to attract investment and business, but also make them thrive.
The forum was jointly organised by the Embassy of Ghana in Japan and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) as part of President Mills four day state visit to Japan, which began on Wednesday.
President Mills said Government had created a friendly investment climate reinforced by political stability, market access, security to life and property, a reliable judicial system and a friendly tax regime, with a guaranteed good return on investment.
Ghana could also serve as an entry point into the vast West African market with its population of about 250 million people.
Additionally, there are rich natural and human resources, and Ghana wants to learn more from the very best, President Mills said, and expressed the nation's appreciation to Japan for her assistance to Ghana over the years.
President Mills said Government realised the crucial role of the private sector in Ghana's economic regeneration process and had embarked on a series of pragmatic and innovative measures to reinvigorate the business environment and promote entrepreneurship to yield positive dividends.
He added that Ghana's macro-economic performance remains one of Africa's success stories with a recorded decline in inflation, interest rates and other economic indicators registering impressive figures.
"Ghana has also discovered oil for which commercial exploitation begins very soon, " President Mills said, and enlisted the technical assistance of Japan in developing her energy sector.
He announced that investment opportunities also existed in other sectors of oil and gas, infrastructure, agriculture, agro processing , manufacturing and tourism.
"We need expertise, technology and funding; we are determined to ensure that people who come to do investment in Ghana are given protection," President Mills said, adding that "Government is determined to ensure that no obstacles are put on your way."
He reiterated Government's determination to ensure a better Ghana, with pragmatic policies and actions to invest in people, create jobs, build a strong and vibrant economy and run an open, honest and transparent Government.
President Mills pointed out that the world had reached a stage where there was the need for stronger collaboration and interdependence and urged developed nations to partner Africa to remove the negative images of wars, political instability, poverty, illiteracy and diseases.
"Let the whole world know that when given the chance, Africa can rise to the occasion," President Mills declared.
Mr Yasuo Hayashi, Chairman of JETRO, who described the forum as memorable, noted that Ghana was blessed with natural resources.
He commended the Ghana Government for enhancing the macro economic environment with a growth in the Gross Domestic Product, in addition to the nation's political stability, all of which are good for business.
From Benjamin Mensah, GNA Special Correspondent, Tokyo, Japan