Ghanaian Chief Nana Osim Kwatia ll came to Michigan last month to attend the 50th Anniversary of the Saginaw African Cultural Festival, one of the country's longest running festivals of its kind. As a champion for promoting socio-economic development in the African country of Ghana, Nana explored business opportunities with leaders in the Great Lakes Bay region. During his visit, Nana, his economic advisor, Oheneba Mrs. Mercy Akosua Yeboah, Dr. Joseph Ofori-Dankwa, the Harvey Randall Wickes Endowed Chair in International Business at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU), and a group of students from SVSU toured the office and plant of Saginaw's Duperon Corporation, and joined forty local entrepreneurs and the Duperon family for dinner at the home of Terry Duperon, founder and chairman of the board.
"We are grateful for the chance to host Nana in our plant and in our home," Duperon said. "Right now, with the present tax breaks and less regulations, there are more opportunities than ever to invest in international economic growth. This was a chance to share ideas and create possibilities for both of our communities."