ACCRA, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Sentuo Group, a diversified Chinese multinational conglomerate operating in Ghana, held a groundbreaking ceremony late Tuesday in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, for an ultramodern, self-contained urban enclave.
Upon completion, the Sentuo Airport Garden City project would enhance Accra's architectural dignity, with a portfolio of about 582 premium apartments, a 600-room hotel, an ultra-modern conference edifice with a 2,500-seat capacity, as well as healthcare facilities and a modern shopping mall, according to the company.
Breaking ground for the project, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama lauded Sentuo for its continuous investments in Ghana, including investments in the steel industry, ceramic and tile production, and oil refining, as well as the Chinese investor community for their continued confidence in Ghana as an investment destination.
Mahama noted that once completed, the Sentuo Airport Garden City would add enormous quality to the capital's urban environment and improve the range and quality of accommodation, hospitality, conferencing, and related services in the city.
The project, according to the president, complements the investment the government is making within and around the Accra International Airport, including a seven-story development comprising 2,030 parking bays for cars, two hotels, and commercial facilities.
He said such projects were critical to anchoring Ghana's status as a conference and tourism destination and ending the situation in which the country is bypassed as a conference destination.
"This development will provide enough hotel rooms. We'll have enough conference facilities to be able to host even a UN conference here in Accra, and the benefits of tourism will reach hospitality businesses, artisans, farmers, workers, and communities throughout the country," he noted.
Xu Ningquan, executive chairman of Sentuo Group, said his confidence in the Ghanaian economy has continued to grow through his investment experiences in the country at every given point since his first initiative in the steel industry.
"We want the Airport City to be a place where you feel connected to Ghana and comfortable making a home. To Ghanaians in this diaspora, we extend the same invitation to build a lasting connection with Ghana," Xu said. ■