Potential investors cancel trips to Ghana over COVID-19 pandemic – GIPC

The CEO of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Yofi Grant, says his outfit has started recording cancellations of scheduled meetings by potential investors due to growing concerns about the increasing number of Coronavirus infections across the world.

Currently, the disease has killed more than 7,000 people globally, out of over 180,000 cases.

Speaking about challenges posed by the pandemic to the GIPC’s efforts at attracting investors, Mr. Yofi Grant said all stakeholders would have to work together to ensure that the business community does not suffer immeasurable damage.

“As you know a lot of the airlines have blocked their flights to China today. Truly the Coronavirus has sort of been a stumbling block for trade, movement and for business in many countries. We at GIPC have had at least 4 cancellations from companies that were coming to visit, who are now saying we should hold on until the situation gets under control.”

All six of Ghana’s COVID-19 cases have been described as imported since the individuals in question had travelled to either Europe or the USA over the past two weeks before returning to the country.

Several countries have already taken drastic measures on in-bound flights especially from countries that have recorded more cases of the disease.

Schools, religious activities and other public gathering events have all been halted in Ghana on the directives of President Akufo-Addo for the next four weeks all in a bid to avoid a spread of the virus.

Government has already approved some 100 million dollars for the fight against the disease.