On Tuesday, August 8, 2022, the maiden edition of the Manste Amugi Business Africa organized by the Ga Traditional Council in partnership with the Office of the Ga Manste and JLA Group International held at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly as part of the Homowo celebrations served as a tribute to the late Nii Amugi II, former Ga Mantse who ruled the state for 39 years.
The conference and exhibition event under the theme “Realising the AfCFTA Benefits and more”, saw the attendance of rulers of the Ga Traditional Council, the Mayor of Accra City, the Secretary-General and coordinators of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat (AfCFTA), CEOs and dignitaries across Africa and the Diaspora as well as local entrepreneurs.
Delivering her opening remarks, the Mayor of Accra City, Hon. Elizabeth Tawaih Sackey encouraged Ghanaians to harness, hone and write appropriate narratives of the Ga culture and traditions. She further reiterated the significance of the Mantse Amugi Business Africa as she indicated that the forum would serve as a platform for job creation and trading through the AfCFTA initiative.
“I stand on behalf of the president of the republic Nana Akufo Addo to welcome everyone to today’s event. We all know what’s at stake for us as Ghanaians and what lies beyond us that as Gas who lead the business fellows in the city. We are here today to facilitate and to promote business in the city and create job opportunities for everyone in the community to make a livelihood, cater for the family and contribute to the development of the community. Before we leave here I hope that we will all take home vital notes and lessons from the AfCFTA initiative and facilitate our business growth to build a legacy for the next generation of leaders.” she said.
The Chairman of the occasion Nana Akwasi Awuah shared his encounter with the Ga tradition and urged fellow countrymen to appreciate its heritage as he accepted his role in the event.
“My Ga to the people renowned persons seated here wouldn’t be that good for the occasion but I thanks to my father I learnt how to speak Ga even when I was in Kumasi where I grew up. Because I was a footballer I mainly played with the Ga boys I definitely needed to learn how to speak the language. I would want to thank the organizers and HRM Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru for giving me the opportunity to chair this honourable event,” he noted.
On his part the Head of Business at the Office of the Ga Manste, Lawrence Anyetei Adjei reiterated the significance of the Mantse Amugi Business Africa 2022. He promised sustainable and continued forums to develop local businesses within the Ga State.
Serving as the Keynote Speaker of the conference, His Excellency, Wamkele Mene the Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat encouraged African production and development. He admonished African leaders to promote continental trading and take foster the vision and aim of the AfCFTA enterprise.
“We have ensure that the AfCFTA has taken off to a very good success. How do Ghanaians benefit from the initiative. We are the benefits for small scale and medium enterprises and young entrepreneurs want to export the products outside of the country to other parts of the continent. That is why I want to congratulate His Royal Majesty for putting up such an initiative and I hope more ofsuch forums are put together for the local entreprenuers,”
He further opined that Ghana has been deservedly allowed to house the AfCFTA initiative given its history of leading Pan-Africanism on the continent.
In between the speeches were some words from CEOs of various Ghanaian institutions including the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) among others. There was also an eloquent display of spoken word from the renowned Ga poet, Nii Kwadeyteng.
His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru charged the Ga community and to a large extent the Ghanaians to celebrate its fallen heroes and uphold the legacy as he reiterated that “A nation that does not honour its heroes will not long endure and its never worth dying for.”
“I want to urge all the fellow Ga brothers and sisters to use this year’s occassion to remember the late Nii Amugi III, who has been forgotten for long a time. A hereo who was stoned, shamed yet stood firm to ensure the progression of the land,”
A minute silence was then observed on behalf of the late Nii Amugi III, ordinarily known as Simon Nii Yarboi Yartey.
The two-day conference also included exhibition periods where entrepreneurs portrayed their products and pitched their businesses as well to prospective investors.
By: Jude Tackie
