ePac Flexible Packaging West Africa Joins AmCham Ghana

The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, is pleased to announce ePac Flexible Packaging West Africa as our new Member.

ePac is a digitally-based flexible packaging company driven by its mission to help brands of all sizes stay competitive with exceptional stand-up pouches, lay flat pouches, and roll stock. ePac leverages the latest in digital print technology, providing its customers with a quick and easy way to purchase custom-printed flexible packaging.

Formed in 2016 in the United States, ePac operates worldwide, with manufacturing plants across the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Asia Pacific region, and now in Africa. The ePac West Africa plant, located at Blu Gate Plaza on the Spintex Road, is built to international standards, with a Grade A production zone. The plant, which will serve the West African region, is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2023. Learn More

 

 

 

CONTACT

Web: https://epacflexibles.com.gh

Email: contact@epacflexibles.com

Tel: +233 59 699 3889

Address

Blue Gate Plaza,

Plot 129 Spintex Rd

Accra, Ghana

5Th AmCham/GARIA Business Meeting: Discussion Of The New Office Of The Registrar Of Companies

The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, and the Ghana Association of Restructuring & Insolvency Advisors (GARIA) On Thursday, November 3, 2022, hosted the Registrar of Companies,  Jemima Oware, for a discussion of the new Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) towards enhancing the Ease of Doing Business in Ghana at the 5Th AmCham/GARIA Business Meeting.

Other speakers at the event included AmCham Ghana President Ayeesha Bedwei Ibe, President of GARIA, Felix Addo, Dr. Anthony Oteng-Gyasi, Board Chairman, GRA / Executive Chairman of Tropical Cables, and Seth Asante, Chairman of ORC / Managing Partner, Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah.

The separation of ORC from the Registrar-General’s Department (RGD) is to focus solely on entity registrations and administration and to advance sound corporate governance principles, transparency, and ease of doing business.

The objective of the new Office is to register and regulate all types of businesses in conformity with the laws. The ORC will also discharge duties and perform functions of the Office as the Official Liquidator and Regulator of Insolvency Practitioners under the Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring Act, 2020 (Act 1015) with its amendment (Act 1031).

Under the new Act establishing the ORC;

  • The Regulations (Articles of Association and Memorandum of Association) are now referred to as the Constitution.
  • Companies are given the option to file a Registered Constitution or opt for one of the Three Schedules in the Act which are prototypes of the six (6) types of Constitutions under the Act as their Constitution.
  • Object Clause is no more mandatory (sectors required, however).
  • Objects would, however, be required by Companies regulated in a specialized sector such as Banks and Companies with Foreign Participation.
  • The rules governing approval of the names by the Registrar of Companies would still apply with regard to the name of a business and how it can restrict a company to only specific objects to operate
  • New suffixes have been introduced-S.21 (Limited Company (LTD), PLC, LBG, PLBG, PRUC, PUC, etc.)
  • The age limit is now 18, not 21.
  • No required minimum capital
  • No Certificate to Commence Business
  • Unclaimed Dividends are to be transferred to the ORC under sections 73 and 74 of Act 992 and managed for 7 years, after which if the dividend is still unclaimed, 50% would be transferred to the Consolidated Fund and 50% lodged in the ORC’s interest-bearing Account to be used for investor education, research, entrepreneurial development and advancement in Company Law.
  • The Directors of a Company shall not appoint a person as a Company Secretary unless that person; has obtained a professional qualification or tertiary level qualification with an offering in company law practice and administration that enables the person to have the knowledge and perform the functions of a Company Secretary, has been appointed a Company Secretary Trainee or has held office under a qualified Company Secretary for at least three (3) years; or is a member in good standing of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators or the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana, having been enrolled to practice, is in good standing as a Barrister or Solicitor in the Republic, or by academic qualification, or as a member of a professional body, appears to the Directors as capable of performing the functions of a secretary of the Company.

Madam Oware also hinted that under the Ghana Economic Transformation Project, being funded by the World Bank, the RGD procured a consultant to help the new ORC develop its Corporate Strategic Document and Organizational Manual and facilitate the decoupling from the RGD. These Documents she said would be ready by January 2023.

According to the Registrar of Companies, new software with efficient functionalities is being procured through the World Bank to streamline online service delivery to ensure fewer walk-ins. With the new system, a standard API will be provided for data-sharing purposes and real-time information access. Applicants will be allowed to select the bank of their choice during the registration process, and the data will be shared with the bank for account opening purposes at a fee.

In dealing with ‘GORO Boys,’ Madam Oware said, a VVIP unit will be established in the ORC located at the RGD to provide swift services at an approved fee.

Agility Joins AmCham Ghana

The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, is pleased to welcome a global leader in supply chain services, infrastructure, and innovation, Agility to our association of progressive businesses.

Agility joined AmCham Ghana as a Gold Member. The Agility group companies include the world’s largest aviation services provider by number of countries, a logistics parks business that is one of the largest private owners of warehousing and industrial real estate in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, a market-leading liquid fuel logistics business for emerging markets, and companies that offer customs digitization, remote infrastructure services, e-commerce enablement, and digital logistics, and commercial real estate and facilities management.

Agility is also an innovation, sustainability, and resilience investor, with a growing portfolio of listed and non-listed investment partners looking to reshape their respective industries across various sectors.

Their portfolio includes minority stakes in listed and non-listed companies in sectors such as freight forwarding, e-commerce, sustainable transport, and alternative energy. The company’s largest investment is in global transport provider, DSV. They also have stakes in a growing number of technology ventures around the world.

The values at the heart of Agility’s culture are integrity, personal ownership, teamwork, and excellence. They seek, encourage, celebrate, and reward these values because they are essential to the promises they have made to customers, communities, investors, suppliers, and employees.

The Board of Directors and the entire AmCham Ghana community welcome Agility to our fold. Click Here to learn more about Agility

 

CONTACT

Agility Distribution Parks Ghana Limited

+233(0)302 211319

PMB CT 18, Cantonments

Office 8 & 9 ADP Plot A, Tema Freezone Enclave,

Tema-Accra

AmCham Ghana/U.S. Embassy Train Entrepreneurs On How To Launch A Successful International Franchise Business

AmCham Ghana, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, held a two-day franchise training for about 50 Ghanaian businesses and entrepreneurs in Accra. The maiden franchise training event on How to Launch a Successful International Franchise Business was to equip participants with expertise on engaging with U.S. franchisors.

The two-day event saw remarks from the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Accra, Nicole Chulick, and Chairman of the AmCham Ghana Franchising Committee/Executive Director of Mohinani Group, Ashok Mohinani. The training also featured lectures from industry experts, including Kay Ainsley, Managing Director at MSA Worldwide, and Eric Johnson, Global Franchising Team Lead at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Franchising allows local companies to work closely with U.S. partners with extensive marketing, logistics, and financing expertise. The training also hosted a panel of industry practitioners from PwC, Cal Bank, Ecobank, Fareast Mercantile, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Kimathi & Partners, Ministry of Trade, Quality Insurance, Orkin Pest Control, and the Ghana Registrar General’s Office for discussions on Intellectual Property Rights; Local Legal, Tax, and Policy Considerations; Local Business Development and Financing for Franchises; and Running a Successful Franchise. 

Participants were presented with a certificate of participation by the Executive Secretary of AmCham Ghana, Simon Madjie, after their two-day intensive training from leading U.S. industry trainers and international and local experts about franchising contracts, how to build a strong franchising business, sources of revenue for each partner, local tax and legal issues, how to secure financing, and protect intellectual property rights, among other topics.

 

AmCham Ghana Hosts Memphis Trade Delegation

The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, hosted a Trade Delegation from the United States city of Memphis in Tennessee at the Chamber’s secretariat in Accra.

The delegation led by the Greater Memphis Chamber was in the country to explore investment opportunities in education, tourism, and infrastructure, as well as build strong cultural ties with Ghana.

AmCham Ghana Executive Secretary, Madjie Simon, briefed the delegation on doing business in Ghana and shared economically viable sectors which could boost trade and investment between Ghana and the United States. He reiterated the Chamber’s preparedness to assist businesses seeking to establish and do business in Ghana.

Gateway Real Estate Africa, Appolonia City Open First Commercial Office Building

Adumuah Place, the first office building at Appolonia City, is open and ready for its first tenants. Developed by Gateway Real Estate Africa (GREA), Adumuah Place is conveniently located off the Adenta-Dodowa Road and strategically positioned at the entrance to Appolonia City, Greater Accra’s new city.

GREA, a leading property developer and manager with operations across Africa, offers corporate office and retail space in the USD 4 million Grade A building. Adumuah Place is anchored by Appolonia Development Company’s new headquarters, a clinic and pharmacy by C & J Medicare Limited and Duka Supermarket, a chain of green grocery stores.

The launch of Adumuah Place was attended by Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye, the Minister for Works and Housing, businessman Sir Sam Jonah and executives from GREA and Appolonia City.

“On behalf of the government, I commend Gateway Real Estate Africa and Appolonia City for their foresight in developing high-quality office space in a decentralized location that is free from the traffic congestion of central Accra,” Asenso-Boakye commented. “Adumuah Place is certain to attract additional tenants that appreciate the live-work-play lifestyle of Appolonia City.”

With offices ranging from 116m2 to 661m2 in the 2,000 m2 building, tenants have a variety of spaces to pick from, depending on their requirements.

“With Adumuah Place, we placed a strong emphasis on reducing tenants’ overall cost of occupation by focusing on clever design features to reduce utility charges and increase tenant comfort,” said GREA CEO and Co-founder Greg Pearson.

Pearson explained that the use of perforated aluminum cladding, for example, shades the building internally, reducing glare and reliance on air conditioning for cooling. Similarly, the building’s northeastern façade has large vertical louvres that reduce glare and heat generated from the morning sun.

Sir Sam Jonah, a director of GREA’s mother company, Grit Real Estate Income Group, said, “Building today is about building for post-covid cities and delivering on the trend towards a new, different and better quality of life in Africa’s business hubs.”

In addition, Adumuah Place benefits from Appolonia City’s existing world-class infrastructure, such as roads, security, ICT and a host of other services.

“Adumuah Place is named in honor of Nii Tei Adumuah II, who ruled Appolonia for 40 years and was a visionary leader of the Appolonia community, our partner in Appolonia City,” said Bright Owusu-Amofah, CEO of Appolonia City. “We are certain Adumuah Place will live up to Nii Tei Adumuah II’s legacy.”

More than two million commuters enter Accra’s CBD every day, creating travel times to work of up to three hours for people who leave their homes after 6am, making for long and tiring days, lower productivity and severely constrained home or leisure time.

Adumuah Place at Appolonia City is the latest in a strategic partnership between GREA and Appolonia City’s developer, Rendeavour, which spans commercial, warehousing and logistics developments at Rendeavour’s new cities in East and West Africa.

 

About Gateway Real Estate Africa (www.greafrica.group)

Gateway Real Estate Africa is a private real estate development company registered in Mauritius. It specializes in turnkey construction of accommodation for international companies and retailers who wish to expand their operations in the African continent. The company creates value for shareholders through development, through rental income from tenanted developments and through the sale of assets at the appropriate time.

Since formation in 2018, Gateway Real Estate Africa has raised and deployed capital into development projects in Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, Mauritius, and Mozambique and is currently delivering on a construction pipeline of US$400 million.

 

About Appolonia City (www.appolonia.com.gh)

Appolonia City is a 2,325-acre (941-hectare) inclusive mixed-use new city in Greater Accra. A seamless live-play-work community, Appolonia City offers homes, offices, shopping, schools, healthcare and ample parks and open spaces. High-quality tarred roads, power, ICT, water and storm drains are already available at Appolonia City.

Appolonia Industrial Park is a 200-acre, modern warehousing, logistics, and a light industrial zone with world-class estate management services.

AmCham Ghana Private Meeting with U.S Congressional Delegation

AmCham Ghana, on Monday, September 12, 2022, hosted a private meeting between visiting U.S Congressional Delegation, the U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E. Palmer, and Executives of AmCham Ghana member companies to discuss issues of sustainability and environmental protection in the extractive industry, as well as further strengthing U.S. – Ghana relations and advocating for improved regulations to enhance the ease of doing business.

The U.S. Congressional delegation included Chairman Raúl Grijalva, House Natural Resources Committee (D-AZ), Congresswomen Jennifer Gonzáles Colón, House Natural Resources Committee (R-PR), Congressman Edward Case, House Natural Resources Committee (D-HI), Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, House Natural Resources Committee (D-NMI), and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, House Natural Resources Committee (D-MI).

AmCham Members companies present at the meeting included, Joe Mensah, Senior Vice President & Head of Ghana Business Unit at Kosmos Energy, David Thornton Regional Senior Vice President at Newmont Africa, Adiki Ofeibea Ayitevie, Vice President, Sustainability & External Relations at Newmont Africa, Bharathwaj Kannan, Sr. Area Manager for North West Africa at Halliburton, Evans Sam, Operations Administrator at Boart Longyear, Theophilus Ahwireng, Chairman/Managing Director at MODEC Production Services Ghana JV Limited, Baafour Asiamah-Adjei, CEO at Genser Energy, Frances Rogoz, VP of Project Development at Genser Energy, Anna Klapper, VP External Communications at Genser Energy, Prince Agbeibor, Country Manager, Ghana & Ivory Coast at Schlumberger, Selom Akaba, New Units Projects Director Sub-Saharan Africa at GE Gas Power, Mark Pritchard, Country Manager at The Coca-Cola Bottling Company Of Ghana Limited, and  Joseph Dankwah, Business Development & Sales Manager -TechnipFMC Ghana, Equatorial Guinea & Ivory Coast.

The Ghana Real Estate Professional Association Joins AmCham Ghana

The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, is pleased to welcome the Ghana Real Estate Professional Association (GREPA) to our community of progressive businesses. GREPA joins the Chamber as a Gold Member.

GREPA  was set up to bring professionals in the Ghanaian real estate industry together to promote the goals of its members, promote professional standards and ethics, and provide local and international networking.

The organization aims to aggressively promote the optimum  utilization and growth of Real Estate Services in Ghana based on core values of being ethical, noble, and accountable and providing the most accurate information, future-focused education, invaluable networking, and “Building a reputation second to none.”

The objectives of the Ghana Real Estate Professional Association include;

  1. To create a networking platform and opportunities for members on local and global business levels
  2. To partner with international real estate organizations building a global real estate village.
  3. Support for Government regulation for the country and members of the association.
  4. As a single platform, we can raise our voices, share and carry on any issue related to Real Estate, and assist Government in formulating Bills and Acts of parliament for the Industry, or any other work related to our business.
  5. To collaborate with other local institutions to create awareness and public education on matters affecting real estate and more specifically Landlord-Tenant issues.
  6. To unite the Real Estate Brokers, Associates of Ghana for the purpose of exerting effectively a combined positive influence upon matters affecting our profession.
  7. To promote and maintain the highest standard of conduct in all Real Estate transactions as expressed in the Code of Ethics that will be adopted by this Association and to enforce the Code among members in dealing with one another and the public.
  8. To achieve transparency, accountability, fair dealing, and ethical practices for overall good governance and TRUST in the industry.
  9. To improve the economic opportunities of every Ghanaian by providing a road map to international Best Practices in the property market.

GREPA is set up for the public good, providing quality services, ensuring client satisfaction, creating credibility and trust in the industry, encouraging cooperative transactions among members, and facilitating profits for the practitioners. Learn More

 

CONTACTS

Official Address
15 Sergeant Adjetey Street
East Legon,  IL  233
Ghana
Phone Number

+233 57 5085 565

VX Technologies And Ghana’s Future on Blockchain

The Chamber, in collaboration with our member, VX Technologies, on August 25, 2022, hosted an event on Ghana’s Future on Blockchain, introducing VXT’s cutting-edge credentialing technology to Ghana.

Speakers at the event included AmCham Ghana President, Ayesha Bedwei Ibe, President of VX Technologies, Justin Pauly, AmCham Ghana Executive Secretary, Simon Madjie, Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, Laurie Kelleher, and Managing Director at Cargill Ghana, Aedo van der Weij, who stated that it is hard to effect changes in already established systems and that it wasn’t a coincidence that Mobile Money was invented in Africa. “It never would have been possible to invent that in the U.S. or Europe,” he added.

VXT is a fast-growing Verified Record (VR)™ on Blockchain company that provides secure certificates at a low initial purchase price and low recurring costs. The company operates globally from its base in the United States, and according to its President, Justin Pauly, the company is excited to establish its African headquarters in Ghana. “I think Ghana has a bright future with respect to blockchain technology. It’s very important for businesses to work with blockchain to effect changes in their operations,” he added.

VX Technologies’ products reach every facet of life that needs to be verified, and verification is verifiable anywhere there is the internet. The opportunities for verification range from personal achievements in education and professional credentials to your vaccination status or prescriptions.

VXT recently joined AmCham Ghana, and Chamber’s Executive secretary, Simon Madjie, during his remarks, reiterated the Chamber’s commitment to strengthening economic relations between Ghana and the United States. “Today is one of those days where our everyday work comes to fruition, which is promoting U.S. business here (Ghana). VTX, a U.S. company, and what they are bringing onto the Ghanaian market gives us such an opportunity to bring to the fore the importance of working with companies from the U.S. And it is not just working with them but they are here to transfer technology, work with locals, pay taxes and improve the lives of many Ghanaians,” he stated.

The company provides the technology to instill trust where it has been lacking and aims to overcome problems that seemed impossible to solve before blockchain. Its records are immutable and sanctioned by a government and or governing body to instill trust in individuals, providers, and the societies that they serve.

They are focused on promoting individual sovereignty by providing products that enable you to have a record of your life. Your credentials, certifications, treatments, and more should be usable as you see fit, as well as public sovereignty, by ensuring the credentials or status of anyone can be verified at all times. Whether you want to secure someone’s vaccination status or professional credential, you should be able to anywhere and for free.

 VXT chose to tackle global trust markets for two reasons. First, billions of people worldwide face issues related to the authenticity and availability of records. Second, they are solvable on both technological and financial scales with blockchain.

 

Contact VXT

Prince.Adipah@vxpass.com
justin.pauly@vxpass.com
www.verifyforx.com
www.vxpass.com

Summary Of The U.S. Strategy Towards Sub-Saharan Africa

Introduction

Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the world’s fastest-growing populations, the largest free trade areas, and diverse ecosystems. This strategy reframes the region’s importance to US national security interests. It calls for developing a deeper bench of partners and a more flexible regional architecture. US policy priorities include promoting democracy and governance, peace and security, trade and investment, and development.

Strategic Objectives

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the United States will pursue four goals:

  • Foster Openness and Open Societies
  • Deliver Democratic and Security Dividends
  • Advance Pandemic Recovery and Economic Opportunity
  • Support Conservation, Climate Adaption, and a Just Energy Transition

Foster Openness and Open Societies

The US is vested in ensuring that the region remains open and accessible to all. Open societies are more likely to collaborate with the US, attract more US commerce and investment, and implement policies that better the lives of their residents.

  • The United States will collaborate with African governments, civil society, and the public to strengthen openness and accountability, mainly through investigative journalism, countering digital authoritarianism, and enshrining laws, reforms, and practices that promote shared democratic principles.
  • The United States will increase its focus on rule of law, justice, and dignity to deepen resilience and undercut negative influences
  • The United States will support African countries in leveraging their natural resources more transparently, particularly energy and essential minerals, for sustainable development while also assisting to strengthen diversified, open, and predictable supply chains.

Deliver Democratic and Security Dividends

The region’s willingness and ability to revitalize its democracies and foresee, avoid, and address emergent and long-running conflicts can lead to better outcomes for Africans and Americans.

  • The United States will seek to stem the recent tide of authoritarianism & military takeovers by working with allies and partners in the region.
  • The United States will support African democracies by backing civil society, empowering marginalized groups, and centering the voices of women and youth in reform efforts.
  • The United States will focus its diplomatic efforts, leverage its development programs, and use its defense tools to strengthen and enable partners to respond to the drivers of conflict across the region.
  • The United States will prioritize counterterrorism (CT) resources to reduce the threat from terrorist groups to the U.S. Homeland, persons, and diplomatic and military facilities, directing unilateral capability only where lawful and where the threat is most acute.

Advance Pandemic Recovery and Economic Opportunity

It is critical to address two of the region’s most important issues: the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic and social ramifications. The United States is dedicated to collaborating with African governments and international partners to help African economies become more stable and inclusive.

  • The United States will prioritize policies and programs, as well as strengthen existing partnerships, to end the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and enhance health security
  • The United States will strengthen global supply chains to increase preparedness for the next health threat; address challenges in procuring and delivering vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics; support manufacturing initiatives for vaccines and other medical countermeasures.
  • The United States will work with African countries to promote a stronger growth trajectory and debt sustainability, including by leveraging multilateral institutions, global partners, and international initiatives, to support the region’s economic recovery.
  • The United States will assist in rebuilding human capital and food systems that have been severely undermined due to the pandemic and the impact of Russia’s assault on Ukraine.

Support Conservation, Climate Adaptation, and a Just Energy Transition

Africa’s efforts to conserve and restore the continent’s ecosystems and rich natural resources— while also realizing energy access and energy security goals, diversifying its energy mix, and building sustainable supply chains—are central to tackling the global climate crisis.

  • The United States will partner with African governments, civil society, and local communities to conserve, manage, and restore the continent’s rich natural ecosystems, which can help reduce global carbon emissions and dampen climate change impacts.
  • The United States will assist African countries in adapting to and building resilience to climate change. The United States will continue collaborating with African states vulnerable to climate
    change.
  • The United States will encourage governments to undertake critical reforms to enable transparent and world-class investment in the region’s essential minerals under the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE).
  • The United States will continue pursuing public-private partnerships to sustainably develop and secure the critical minerals that will supply clean energy technologies needed to facilitate the global energy transition.

The Approach

This new strategy will spur us to refocus, renew, and strengthen existing programs, as well as recommend and develop new initiatives. Here is how it is going to be done.

  • The United States will continue to work with Africans to address shared global concerns and thrive in a more connected, urban, and youthful area.
  • The US will work with African allies to ease legal trade and travel.
  • Across Sub-Saharan Africa, we will create a digital ecosystem based on open, dependable, interoperable, and secure internet and information and communication technology.
  • The US will assist African cities in planning for future expansion in vital sectors such as energy access, climate change adaptation, transportation, and water and waste management.

Conclusion

US President Joe Biden: “We recognize that we have vital interests in common, and our path toward progress rests on a commitment to working together. “Biden noted that “none of this is going to be easy” but affirmed, “there is no doubt that our nations – we’re up to this task.”

 

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