Mr. Michael Baafi, Chairman of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, said the enclave would bring jobs to the people. He added that they were almost done with all the paper work to pave way for the light industrial processing zone.

He dropped the news at the regional awards launch by the Eastern Regional branch of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) in Koforidua.  “Repositioning the Eastern Region for investment and job creation, the role of the media” was the theme chosen for the event.

 The initiative is meant to recognize and reward hard working journalists and media houses in the region.  Mr. Baafi indicated that the government through the free zones concept, was providing incentive packages including a 10-year corporate tax holding, exemptions in direct and indirect export and import duties to people who invested in export oriented businesses.

He called for indigenous Ghanaian businesses to take advantage of these package to grow.

He encouraged journalists to focus priority on issues relating to business development.

Mr. Maxwell Kudekor, the GJA Regional Chairman, announced the setting up of a five-member awards committee, chaired by Dr. Mohammed Jamal of the Koforidua Technical University, to receive and vet entries.

Submission of entries by interested journalists would be done from February 26, to March 26.