All too soon, we have come to the end of the year. Although challenging, there were positive moments that we can dwell on while we anticipate a more prosperous new year.
AmCham Ghana expresses gratitude for the blessings, support, and contributions of all members and associates. These efforts were instrumental in helping us navigate through challenging periods and bring to the forefront the various issues faced by businesses in Ghana. Your support has been vital in our quest to leverage the mutually beneficial trade relations between Ghana and the United States to advance trade and investment for prosperity and growth.
The Chamber successfully hosted several events this year, notably the maiden U.S. Ghana Business Expo, which hosted over 800 participants, including the U.S. Department of Commerce-led Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI) trade delegation that included 19 companies and six trade associations, and provided a platform for fostering bilateral trade collaborations and economic growth between the United States and Ghana.
We also hosted Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Kobina T. Hammond, for a luncheon engagement with the Mayor of Houston and his Trade Delegation, as well as hosted a reception in honor of the Trade Delegation from Memphis. We also had an interaction with the President and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Reta Jo Lewis, for a discussion on financing options and the current state of the business climate.
The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, collaborated with sister organizations to deepen our advocacy efforts at ensuring constant foreign direct investment inflows and improved ease of doing business. These collaborations included our joint event with Prosper Africa and the Corporate Council on “Africa on Leveraging Afreximbank Programs to Expand U.S. Trade and Investment with Africa,” held on the sidelines of the Afreximbank Annual General Meeting in Accra.
We also joined forces with the U.S. Embassy in Ghana to host the AI Forum at the Google AI Research Center to discuss the latest developments in the industry, research, and policy surrounding artificial intelligence.
AmCham Ghana teamed up with member companies and associates, such as Johnson & Johnson, the AfCFTA Secretariat, the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ghana, and the Canada Ghana Chamber of Commerce, to provide networking opportunities for Member companies, advocate for improved mental health care, and to discuss financing investments under the AfCFTA Protocols on Investment and Digital Trade.
I also took an active part in the deliberations at the newly instituted Mutual Prosperity Dialogue hosted under the auspices of Ghana’s Ministry of Finance aimed at understanding the most pressing needs of companies and identifying the constraints that must be addressed to enable the private sector to drive growth.
AmCham Ghana has been vocal on issues of regulation. We advocated for fairness in the implementation of various government policies. The Chamber issued a statement on the recently passed Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill 2022, calling on the government to consider the impact some of the proposed measures will have on the cost of production, distribution, and sale of products. We also backed AGI’s call on the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to end discrimination in water tariffs.
The Chamber, through the Consultative Meeting of Bilateral Chambers of Commerce, also drew the government’s attention to some issues that threaten the country’s position as a leading and favorable destination for business and investment.
The AmCham Ghana AfCFTA Resource Center also hosted its maiden training session on “Expanding into African Markets” to provide Members with valuable insights into the different aspects of the agreement, enabling them to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by the new free trade agreement.
We also bid farewell to our immediate past President, Ayesha Bedwei-Ibe, Vice-President Pakwo Shum, Treasurer, Adiki Ayitevie, and Two Board Members, Doris Afanyedey and Sulemana Abubakar. The Chamber appreciates your unwavering commitment and service.
As the old executives departed, the Chamber was honored to welcome the newly appointed executives, including President Kimathi Kuenyehia; Vice-President David Thornton; Treasurer Bethel Yeboah; Board Member Mark Appiah; Board Member Nii Koi Kotey; Board Member Eloina Baddoo, and Board Member Clara Amarteifio.
The Chamber would like to express our sincere gratitude to all member companies who supported and sponsored our various events and activities. We thank all participants, speakers, and stakeholders for their valuable contributions and insights. We are most grateful for your collaboration and look forward to more opportunities to work together.
As the year comes to an end, the American Chamber of Commerce in Ghana wishes all its members, associates, and their families a joyful season.