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The India High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Sugandh Rajaram, became the first High Commissioner to make an official visit to the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Council in the Western North region last Monday.

Mr Sugandh Rajaram was welcomed in a colourful traditional ceremony to the Okugyeabour Fie, the palace of the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Area with the regional minister, Richard Obeng, in attendance.

He was at the traditional area to build a new friendship and explore business opportunities between the two on how to enhance economic fortunes of India and the Sefwi area.

The Paramount Chief of the Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Council, Katakyie Kwasi Bumagama ll, said the area abounds with many potentials including Agriculture which the two could work together to add value as well as creat jobs for the youth.

Katakyie Kwasi Bumagama ll in a discussion said being one of the newly created regions in Ghana, it is bedevilled with a myriad of infrastructural challanges and expressed the hope that the new relationship will help address it.

As a starter, the High Commissioner will attend this year's annual Eluo Festival by the people of Sefwi Wiaso on November 24 and 25 to help develop a document towards making it big and International.

"It is my hope that the rich culture of India and that of Ghana will open avenues for tourism in the Sefwi Wiawso traditional area," the Chief said.

Katakyie Kwasi Bumagama ll told his guest that Sefwi lands abounds in rich deposits of gold and timber resources and that lack of employment is forcing the youth to leave the area in search of greener pastures.

He urged the High Commissioner to help set up refinery factories to absorb most of the youth.

Education

The Sefwi Wiawso Paramount Chief appealed to the High Commissioner to assist in securing scholarships for brilliant but needy students especially those pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Also on the radar is an initiative for an exchange programme with the Sefwi Wiawso College of Education and Colleges of Education in India to enhance academic work.

Katakyie Kwasi Bumagama ll called for the reactivation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Cocoa Processing Factory in Sefwi Wiaso which was truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He suggested that this could be done with the support of an Exim Bank Loan facility to actualise it.

Commissioner

The High commissioner, Mr Sugandh Rajaram, commended the Council and the Western North Regional Coordinating Council for the rousing welcome.

He promised to build on the relationship that has existed between Ghana and India for decades with Sefwi as the new focus.

"Accra alone should not see development from the India government and other regions should not be left out," he said.

The High Commissioner was later decorated with a rich Kente cloth to symbolise the rich culture of the region.