In fulfillment of its annual pledge to complement the effort of the National Chief Imam to continue caring for the destitute in the Muslim communities, the Ghana Free Zones Board (GFZB) has donated an unspecified amount to His Eminence Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu in Accra.
The donation, which has become an annual event on the calendar of the investment promotion agency during the month of Ramadan, forms part of its corporate social responsibility.
Speaking at a short ceremony at the Chief Imam�s Fadama residence last Thursday, Investment Supports Services Manager of GFZB, Hajia Hannatu Abubakar, on behalf of the board, explained that the donation was to augment the effort of Chief Imam in the upkeep of the poor.
She said considering the number of people who depend on the Chief Imam for their livelihood, we decided; as we used to do every Ramadan season, to offer our widow�s mite to the Chief Imam to help him feed the multitudes that depend on him for food, and also help educate our brothers and sisters in the Muslim community.�
Hajia Hannatu, who doubles as the founder and President of Al-Hayaat Foundation, a community-based NGO, stated that it is the desire of the Ghana Free Zones Board to assist the Chief Imam to put smiles on the faces of the needy and other vulnerable in the society.
Whiles cautioning the youth in the Muslim communities to make education a topmost priority, she used the opportunity to dispel societal notion that the free zones company were designed for only multinationals and foreign companies.
According to her the free zones program was designed for both domestic and foreign companies, revealing that since the inception of the program between 40-50 percent Ghanaian companies have acquired license to operate within the free zones enclaves dotted across the country.
Hajia Hannatu advised potential Ghanaian businessmen to take advantage of the opportunities available to acquire free zones license in order to add value to the country�s raw materials.
The National Chief Imam, Dr. Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu expressed his profound gratitude to the managers of GFZB for the support they have been rendering the Muslim community.
He also prayed for managers of the nation�s economy to come up with policies that will help lift Ghana from its present sordid economic state.
The GFZB, which was established in 1995 by an Act of Parliament, has over the years achieved positive results in many sectors of the economy, from agro food processing, manufacturing, mining, textiles, ICT among others.
In order to push successfully on many fronts to boost the nation�s fledging economy and create more jobs, Hajia Hanatu said the board has positioned itself to provide the needed infrastructure and efficient services for investors in the free zones.
Companies registered with the GFZB enjoys services such as NO restrictions on issuance of work and residence permits to free zone investors and employees, Duty free access of manufactured exports to USA (AGOA) and European Union markets, Excellent sea and air connections with Europe and USA, a comparatively well-developed infrastructure i.e. internal road network, electricity and water supplies, internal and external communications as well as sea and airport facilities.
Others are availability of factory buildings and serviced plots at the Tema Export Processing Zone, an already existing industrial base ranging from heavy engineering to precision industries, electronics, agro processing, plastics and metal work, clothing and textiles, jewelry and wood processing and availability of a stock exchange as well as other bank and non-banking financial institutions i.e. Exim- Guaranty Co. Limited, Venture Fund Management Company, Ghana Leasing Company, Export Development and Investment Fund, etc.
The rest are a dynamic private sector willing to collaborate with foreign partners, committed and progressive government/private sector participation, a high degree of personal safety and a truly hospitable people.
The GFZB currently has four established enclaves which are located in Tema, Kumasi, Sekondi and Shama
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