AmCham Ghana’s Consumer Goods & Retail and Agribusiness Committee, led by Chief Executive Officer Doris Kafui Afanyedey and Committee Vice Chairman Max, Managing Director of Cargill Ghana, held a high-level engagement with Professor George Agyei, Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).

The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration to address the growing influx of substandard goods, enhance enforcement mechanisms, and improve market integrity.

Professor Agyei underscored the urgent need for stronger enforcement, improved intelligence systems, and deeper collaboration with the private sector to safeguard consumer safety and investor confidence.

Earlier this week, AmCham Ghana hosted the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA) for a strategic discussion on export-driven incentives and business opportunities.

The session, led by CEO Doris Afanyedey and Director of Business Development & Research Mr. Edward Adu-Ntiamoah, highlighted key benefits under the Free Zones Programme, including up to 10 years of corporate tax exemption for companies exporting at least 70% of their production, with no requirement to operate within a free zone enclave.

Ms. Afanyedey noted that some long-standing AmCham members, despite significant investments in local infrastructure, could benefit from improved aftercare support similar to what is available to companies located in the Free Zones, if they were to operate within that enclave.

Key challenges highlighted include persistent delays in the clearance of equipment at the ports, resulting in high demurrage costs, with such delays risking erosion of investor confidence.

She called for structured engagement between AmCham members and the GFZA, particularly for companies in the export space, to ensure they fully utilize available offerings. Key areas of focus should include customs clearance facilitation, timely delivery of fiscal incentives, and structured expansion support, all aimed at protecting existing investments and strengthening the operating environment.

The engagement reinforced the need for stronger alignment between incentives and operational efficiency to drive investment and competitiveness.

ACCRA, Ghana – 26th February 2026 –The American Chamber of Commerce in Ghana (AmCham Ghana), in collaboration with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), hosted the first of AmCham’s US-Ghana Commercial Dialogue series, bringing together public and private sector leaders to deepen U.S.–Ghana investment partnerships and explore new growth opportunities.

AmCham CEO, Doris Kafui Afanyedey, reiterated that AmCham Ghana will continue to act as a structured bridge between private sector realities and public policy ambition. She emphasized that the Chamber would continue to advocate and convene constructive dialogue with governmental organizations that will lead to solutions. AmCham Ghana represents companies that collectively account for significant capital, employment, technology transfer, and tax contributions to the Ghana economy, and as captive investment partners, members need to be clear on how their investment can be protected.

The forum featured a keynote presentation by the Chief Executive Officer of GIPC, Mr. Simon Madjie, who provided insights into Ghana’s economic outlook and the country’s positioning as a preferred investment destination in Africa.

Ghana’s economy is projected to reach US$112 billion in 2025, with an expected 5.8% growth rate, supported by improving macroeconomic indicators. Inflation has declined to 3.8% as of January 2026, reflecting ongoing efforts to stabilize the economy and strengthen investor confidence.

Speaking at the forum, Mr. Madjie highlighted Ghana’s strong fundamentals, including its stable democratic environment, strategic location for global trade, and access to major international markets through frameworks such as AfCFTA, AGOA, and bilateral trade agreements.

Mr. Madjie further emphasised Ghana’s growing role as a commercial hub in Africa, supported by strong capital markets, investor-friendly policies, and the free repatriation of profits, dividends, and capital.

Trade relations between Ghana and the United States continue to strengthen, with total bilateral trade reaching US$2.5 billion in 2025, underscoring the depth of economic engagement between both countries.

The forum also highlighted significant investment opportunities across key sectors of the economy, including agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, digital services, tourism, and real estate. These sectors present strong potential for value creation, job generation, and export growth.

A major point of discussion was the government’s flagship “Big Push” infrastructure programme, including the development of the Accra–Kumasi Expressway, aimed at improving logistics efficiency, reducing transport costs, and unlocking new industrial and commercial corridors.

The engagement forms part of AmCham Ghana’s ongoing efforts to provide a platform for dialogue between the government and the private sector, with a focus on strengthening investor confidence, addressing business challenges, and advancing sustainable economic growth.

Joining Mr. Madjie from the GIPC were Emmanuel Osei Head of Technology Transfer Agreements Department, Eugenia Okyere the Head of Research and International Cooperation, Zainabu Issah, the Public Relations Officer, and Peter Adu, a member of the Marketing and Communication team

AmCham Ghana recently welcomed a delegation from the Indiana Agriculture Leadership Program (ALP) for an institutional briefing focused on how the Chamber supports U.S. businesses and helps shape Ghana’s investment and policy environment.

The session led by our CEO Doris Afanyedey, provided a comprehensive overview by our of AmCham Ghana’s role as the leading platform connecting U.S. companies, Ghanaian stakeholders, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s global network. Discussions highlighted how the Chamber translates membership into influence, visibility and opportunity through strategic advocacy, partnership facilitation, and market-entry support.

As an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AmCham Ghana provides its members with direct access to advocacy and policy dialogue in Washington, as well as opportunities to participate in global initiatives led by the U.S.–Africa Business Center and high-level engagements held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly with African Heads of State.

The delegation gained insight into how AmCham Ghana’s sector committees drive advocacy, how member feedback informs policy engagement, and how the Chamber’s growing trade services support companies seeking to establish or expand operations in Ghana.

The visit reinforced the importance of private-sector collaboration in strengthening the U.S.–Ghana business relationship and advancing a more predictable and competitive environment for investment.

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AmCham Ghana brought together members and the U.S. Embassy’s Economic Section, U.S. Commercial Service, and USDA Foreign Agricultural Service for a practical briefing aimed at deepening engagement and unlocking new opportunities for U.S.–Ghana trade and investment.

Opening the session, our CEO, Doris Kafui Afanyedey, emphasised that AmCham Ghana serves as the critical link between policy and the private sector. She encouraged companies to actively tap into Embassy support systems and share real-time business experiences so that dialogue can translate into meaningful solutions and stronger commercial outcomes.

Economic Counselor Raimonds Palovskis, Commercial Counselor Rachel Kreissl, and Regional Agricultural Counselor Mariano Beillard provided an overview of how their teams track economic trends, address regulatory and market access challenges, and support companies through market intelligence, advocacy, and trade facilitation.

A key message throughout the session was clear: the private sector’s voice matters. Timely and data-driven feedback from member companies strengthens reporting to Washington, supports advocacy efforts, and helps improve Ghana’s overall business climate.

Members also discussed evolving trade frameworks, AGOA utilization, and SPS compliance, with a focus on practical ways to engage early and collaborate through AmCham working groups.

AmCham Ghana’s ICT, Digital & Innovation Committee, led by CEO Doris Afanyedey, held a high-level meeting with H.E. Dr. Abdulla Al Mandoos, UAE Ambassador to Ghana, and a delegation from the U.S. Embassy led by Laurie Kelleher, Commercial Officer, to deepen collaboration and explore new opportunities in Ghana’s digital and innovation ecosystem.

The meeting brought together leading technology companies, including Committee Chairman Mr. Boakye Acheampong, Channel Manager (West Africa) for IBM operated by MIBB, Oracle, Google and ATC Ghana, to discuss how stronger partnerships can accelerate Ghana’s digital transformation and attract strategic investment.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the proposed US$1 billion UAE–Ghana Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which seeks to drive large-scale investment across digital infrastructure, logistics, trade facilitation, and innovation. The Ambassador highlighted the UAE’s strong interest in strengthening economic ties and supporting initiatives that position Ghana as a strategic gateway for regional and global trade.

Participants also discussed the growing role of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data-driven technologies in enhancing productivity, strengthening cybersecurity, and enabling businesses to scale across sectors.

The meeting further explored opportunities for continued engagement with DP World, with follow-up discussions expected to identify areas of collaboration relevant to AmCham Ghana members and the broader private sector.

AmCham Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to fostering partnerships that advance trade, investment, and innovation, and looks forward to strengthening collaboration with the UAE, the U.S. Embassy, and its member companies to support Ghana’s digital growth agenda.

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AmCham Ghana last Tuesday held a strategic engagement meeting with the leadership Andrew Osei Akoto, Country Managing Partner of KPMG to reset, realign, and strengthen collaboration for 2026 and beyond.

The discussion, hosted at KPMG’s offices, marked an important step in deepening institutional partnership and ensuring stronger value delivery to members of the Chamber. In attendance were Doris Kafui Afanyedey, CEO of AmCham Ghana; Jane Okyere-Aduachie; and Albert Ludwig Nortey Botchway.

Reaffirming Value & Purpose

Since assuming office in August, AmCham Ghana’s CEO has prioritized member listening sessions to better understand value gaps and expectations. The meeting with KPMG formed part of this broader engagement strategy.

Key themes discussed included:

• Enhancing member value through advocacy
• Increasing structured collaboration on technical policy issues
• Expanding participation in sector committees
• Co-creating knowledge-driven programs rather than simply attending events

KPMG  emphasized that engagement must be strategic and value-driven, noting that executives increasingly prioritize forums that deliver actionable insight.

Advocacy at the Core

AmCham Ghana reiterated that advocacy represents a central pillar of its work, aligned with best practice from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where advocacy accounts for a significant portion of chamber impact.

Upcoming initiatives highlighted included:

• The CEO Summit (fact-finding format focused on business pain points)
• Launch of Sector Committees across key sector industries
• Development of an Advocacy Workplan driven by member-identified issues
• Introduction of the U.S.–Ghana Commercial Dialogue Series

The emphasis is clear: conversations with policymakers must address real member concerns—tax predictability, regulatory bottlenecks, forex volatility, investment protection, and compliance burdens.

Moving from Participation to Partnership

A strong outcome of the meeting was a shared commitment to move beyond attendance to co-creation

Both organizations expressed optimism that this engagement marks the beginning of a more structured, visible, and mutually beneficial partnership.

With over 120 active members and an ambitious membership growth target for 2026, AmCham Ghana continues to position itself as the premier platform for U.S.–Ghana private sector dialogue.

As both institutions agreed, AmCham was on track to deliver/generate quality insight and the tangible impact for members based on 2026 program outline shared.

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