News:
October 6, 2021
Ahead of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament’s Extraordinary Session scheduled for Tuesday, October 12, 2021 to Friday, October 22, 2021, the people of Winneba over the weekend undertook a health walk to create awareness of the hosting of the Session, outside the national capital.
Leader of the Ghanaian delegation to the sub-regional parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo- Markin joined constituents on a float through major principal streets of Winneba to create awareness of the upcoming Session.
At a press conference addressed by the Member of Parliament for Effutu, he assured Ghanaians that Winneba is ready for the Extraordinary Session and sufficient preparations have been made, and in terms of infrastructure and logistics government of Ghana has provided the needed support to host the event, likewise cooperate institutions in Ghana have given their firm support.
Benefit to the Economy of Winneba
As to the expected benefit of the meeting to the Winneba economy, he pointed out that, the hotels were the first to benefit post COVID-19 as it brought some light to their businesses, explaining that because COVID-19 limited movement of people, it hit hard on the hotel industry, but the delocalised meeting was the first support for those in the hotel and restaurants business. There were also rippling effects on the poultry farmers as they had to sell birds to them; and with the Extraordinary Session these businesses will even benefit more, as already ten hotels have been fully booked.
In addition, those in the transport sector – taxi drivers are going to benefit as delegates would joint taxi wanting to see town, and the “spending power would create more liquid for the economy of Effutu, the market woman, the pepper and tomatoes marketer are going to benefit at that micro level.”
At the macro level is an opportunity to sell the Ghanaian brand through a new vehicle, and marking the Ghanaian brand through Accra has always been the thing, but this time around it is through Winneba. The benefit to Winneba is that it is now on the international map and on the spotlight, and people would want to come and see what is in the area.
“We have a beautiful costal city but we have not explored its potential that much, where people would say I never knew I could enjoy the nice beach in Winneba come in invest there”, he said when questioned by journalists.
He further added that this was an opportunity for the people of Effutu constituency in Winneba to reconcile since they have had their own issues of chieftaincy issues here and there, “there is unity of purpose since the people know we are getting international guests”, the MP stated.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com