New York, U.S.A.- The Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU), a White House initiative founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower for senior business executives to interact with heads of state/government, cabinet ministers and senior government officials, announced the successful completion of a forum in New York City with His Excellency John Evans Atta Mills, President of The Republic of Ghana, and 25 business leaders from across the world.

Sponsored by United States Pharmacopeia and Eni S.p.A., the BCIU forum provided a platform for President Mills to outline the strategic opportunities for investment in Ghana while also addressing the fundamental economic pillars fueling Ghana’s fast growing economy. Business participants similarly outlined strategic opportunities for their companies and industries, while also engaging in a dialogue with the President on investment opportunities.

“We as a government are committed to creating the necessary environment to ensure that investors have good returns on their investments,” said President Mills at the forum. “Now that Ghana’s economy has been described as the fastest growing economy in the world, and at a time oil has been struck, let me be quick to say that it is our determination to ensure that this God-given resource becomes a blessing and not a curse.

We want to make sure that you have a credible judicial system, you have the kind of labor which will respond to the needs of the business, that you have a system which will respond to the very needs of investors.”

President Mills affirmed Ghana’s commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and respect for the judicial system, outlining their significance in fostering economic growth, return on investment and job creation.

“We appreciated the President’s unscripted fluency on economic priorities for Ghana and his comfort level in speaking directly and frankly with our members and international investors,” said Peter Tichansky, President and CEO of BCIU. “The interest in accessing Ghanaian market across major industries – and Africa through the Ghanaian gateway – were consistent themes expressed by businesses attending the forum.”

As a result of this and a previous visit by the President with the business community in New York, BCIU announced it is organizing a trade mission to Ghana later in the year with member companies interested in further exploration of opportunities.

“As one of the largest investors in the Ghanaian oil industry from exploration to production, midstream, and power, we were thrilled to support this outstanding forum with President of Ghana,” said Enzo Viscusi, Group Senior Vice President and Representative for the Americas, Eni.S.p.A.

“Ghana’s commitment to democracy, rule of law and sound investment protection principles has made our experience in the country very rewarding and is one we look to build upon without reservation. President Mills’ administration has shown tremendous discipline and leadership, which bodes well not only forGhana but also for the entire continent.”

“While the expansion of the oil and other major industrial industries in Ghana is clearly a major priority, we are very pleased that this administration is also focused on ensuring a thriving healthcare and pharmaceutical industry,” said Brian Hendrix, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP).

“As a result of this commitment and the stability and economic viability of Ghana, we have announced plans to create the USP-Sub-Saharan Africa Center for Pharmaceutical Advancement and Training (CePAT) in Accra to serve sub-Sahara Africa as an integrated platform for training, education, consulting and laboratory capabilities. From Accra, we will offer a systematic approach to the quality control of medicines in sub-Saharan Africa.”

“We believe Ghana offers terrific opportunities for growth and business development,” said Ed DiSanto, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer, American Tower. “As such, in December 2010 we entered into a joint venture with Africa’s largest mobile operator, MTN Group Limited (MTN) and launched our operations in Ghana.

TowerCo Ghana currently owns and operates nearly 1,900 wireless communication tower sites and plans to develop several hundred new towers over the next several years. We are pleased with the performance of our investment, and our team of 84 Ghanaians, and indirectly hundreds of others via our vendor relationships, are doing a great job.”

“Not only are international firms interested in Ghana, but Ghanaian entrepreneurs are also investing heavily,” said Humphrey Ayim – Darke, Chairman, Greater Accra Chapter, Association of Ghana Industries. “We are rapidly building our own companies, expertise and resources to serve our fast growing markets and taking advantage of our well-educated, hard working and expanding middle class.

We were delighted to participate in this strategic dialogue with international investors and are eager to make it clear that U.S. companies can find outstanding local partners in Ghana.”

“The Ghanaian agriculture sector, while not as high profile as oil, is nonetheless one of the most promising in the world thanks to President Mills’ and past administrations’ policies,” said Steven Wallace, Founder and President, The Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company. “To this day, European and American chocolatiers buy cocoa beans from Ghana and export them to their chocolate factories throughout the world where the famed Ghanaian beans are transformed into some of the world’s most delicious and expensive chocolate.

Now, for the first time, The Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company, which is headquartered in the U.S., is producing world class chocolate entirely in Ghana and uniquely preserving all the best attributes of the finest cocoa beans in the world.”

Image Courtesy of   United Nations Photo

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World-renowned cellist, Yo-Yo Ma, has performed at the Oscars, Grammy’s, Olympics, and now most recently, the State University of New York at Fredonia. The Paris native who was born to Chinese parents boasts an impressive resume with his cello, from playing in front of John F. Kennedy and Dwight D. Eisenhower when he was just seven to honoring his late friend, Steve Jobs, at a memorial this past October.

Releasing 75 records, holding 16 Grammy awards, a National Medal of the Arts, the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award, and the appointed Culture Connect Ambassador by the Department of the State, Yo-Yo Ma is one of the most famous and influential musicians that Fredonia has ever had perform.

Ma traveled to the campus of just about 5,000 students on December 7 to sit in and offer advice to students in the School of Music. He took the stage the following night in King Concert Hall with the College Symphony Orchestra, consisting of about 100 students, and their music director, David Ruge. The concert, also serving as a scholarship benefit, was sold out in a matter of two hours when tickets went on sale back in May for the 1.145 seating venue.

Ma walked out onto the stage with his 1733 Montagnana cello and a broad smile to thunderous applause, shouting, and whistling from every spectator. His friendliness is as impressive as his musical talent. Ma stopped to shake hands and exchange greetings with fellow musicians. When he did sit down as the soloist for the College Symphony Orchestra to play Antonin Dvorak’s “Cello Concerto in B Minor,” nobody made a sound.

Yo-Yo Ma’s classical experience, as well as enthusiasm for music, was blatantly shown as he flawlessly played. Where musicians today merely follow the notes off a sheet and lack emotion or feeling, Ma does not. It seems as though he acts out the music when he plays his cello, creating a connection with the audience.

The cellist repeatedly watched the students nearest to him when he was not playing, with an appreciative and approving smile. Ma finished to a standing ovation and quickly came back out for an encore. Ma seemed extremely excited and happy on the stage, exchanging hugs with the conductor, Ruge, and students. He even offered his bouquet of roses to a nearby violinist. She graciously accepted.

Later this month, Ma will be one of the five individuals to receive the 2011 Kennedy Center Honors, an award for a lifetime of contributions to American culture through the performing arts, presented by President Obama. The event will air December 27 on CBS.

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