The Annual General Assembly of the WCTA, which is the first to be hosted in Africa, will bring to­gether representatives and business delegations from WTCs around the world to discuss creative and strategic ways of deepening trade and investment opportunities for companies in individual countries.

It would be held on the theme “Towards African Economic Integration and Enhanced Global Presence” in Accra.

Speaking at the media launch in Accra on Wednesday, the Executive Chairman of the WTC, Accra, Togbe Afede XIV, stated that the creation of the WTC, Accra has connected Ghana to a thriving global ecosystem of trade and economic opportunities for local companies, hence the need to explore that ecosystem by hosting the WTCA General Assembly in Accra.

“It is the crowning glory of all we have achieved and sought to achieve and our positive projection of Ghana and Africa to the world,” he said.

Togbe Afede XIV said that the General Assembly would create a soft landing for foreign companies seeking to participate in trade and economic activities in Ghana and Africa.

On the role WTC, Accra has played over the years, he stated that “over the years, WTC Accra has conducted inbound and outbound trade missions, capacity-building workshops and seminars, network­ing events and B2B matchmaking activities that have contributed to the growth and prosperity of local companies, both in the WTC Accra business club and outside of it.”

He urged all entrepreneurs and business men to take advantage of the general assembly to forge life­long partnerships to increase socio economic development in Ghana and Africa saying that “It is an encouraging moment for Ghanaian and African entrepreneurs and an invitation to global partnerships, beneficial trade ties and investment opportunities.”

The Director of Member Services of the WTCA, Crystal Edn, in her remarks stated that the WTCA was a global organisation that encouraged trading and busi­ness activities amongst members.

She added that other roles of the WTCA was to encourage trading and provide investment opportuni­ties to its members who were into commercial property development, airports, free trade zones, econom­ic development and small-to-medi­um size businesses who desire to connect to the global market whilst prospering locally.

She explained that the associa­tion decided to organise the 53rd General Assembly in Africa due to the tremendous business oppor­tunities, as well as scale of devel­opment, on the continent, adding: “This is truly a Pan-African event with a global reach.”

 BY JESSEL LATTEY THERSON-COFIE & KESIA ACHIAMPONG