ECONOMICS

Free Zones appeals to chiefs to release lands for industrialisation
Head of Enclave and Estate Management at Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA), Kwame Nsiah Asante has appealed to Traditional Authorities to make available parcels of land for prospective investors to ensure development at their respective communities.

Date Created : 2/12/2019 8:27:07 AM : Story Author : Christian Kpesese/ ghanadistricts.com

Land acquisition in Ghana remains a bane for investors and this has led to an exodus of prospective investors who had expressed interest to do business in the country.

It is in this light that the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) has appealed to chiefs not to shy away from lands for development in their communities.

Addressing Members of the Parliamentary Press Corps at a day’s sensitization workshop on the workings of the Free Zones Authority, Mr. Nsiah Asante said the GFZA is looking to create regional land banks across the country.

“As journalists I will appeal to you, you are all from certain parts of the country, if you can talk to your chiefs, opinion leaders if they can offer the Free Zones Authority land, not one or two acre but from 500 or 1000acre which we can acquire”

He explained that once they acquire the land, they pay all compensation related to economic activities and added that wherever they have sited industrial parks, it “is a win-win situation for the community and the Free Zones Authority, normally most of the workers come from the community”

The establishment of an industrial park also puts the community on an international map, in that whenever the GFZA embarks on an investment promotion, the community’s name comes up, Mr.Nsiah Asante noted.

There are several raw materials in the country which are untapped and some of these have internal value, hence their decision to create a land bank to serve as a hub for future development.

Already, the GFZA have developed industrial parks Ashanti region at Boankra near Kumasi, with a land size of 1,099acres, Shama which has been occupied by Black Ivy of USA which has acquired 400 acres of the land as a private enclave developer.

Ghana’s Free Zones Programme is designed to promote processing and manufacturing of goods through the establishment of Export Processing Zones (EPZs), and, encouraging the development of commercial and service activities at sea- and air-port areas.