AmCham Ghana Welcomes Twitter

The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, welcomes with joy the news of Twitter setting up its first Africa office in Ghana. We believe this is a significant milestone in the development of the country’s tech sector and a further boost to the commercial relationship between Ghana and the United States of America.

As indicated by Twitter, this decision to set up in Ghana is greatly influenced by the country’s stellar democratic credentials and her support for free speech, online freedom, and the Open Internet, as well as the establishment of the AfCFTA Secretariat in Ghana, which is the result of favorable policies and improved business environment, of which AmCham Ghana is an advocate.

The chamber welcomes Twitter into the Ghanaian market and we look forward to working together in improving e-commerce, advocacy, and advancing the country’s tech sector for the future. Akwaaba.

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About AmCham Ghana

The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, is the representative arm of U.S businesses and subsidiaries voluntarily working to create an environment where business can thrive between Ghanaian and American communities. The chamber promotes commercial, economic, educational, and cultural ties between the United States of America and the Republic of Ghana. AmCham Ghana is an affiliate of the U.S Chamber of Commerce, which is the world’s largest business association with over one million members worldwide.

 

Contact

Location: 5TH Crescent Street, Asylum Down

Post Address: P.O. Box CT2869, Cantonments-Accra, Ghana

Tel: 233 030 2247562/233 030 7011862

U.S. Pest Control Giant Orkin Enters Local Market

Global pest control specialist, Orkin, has entered the Ghanaian market, hoping to provide solutions to the agriculture sector, businesses, and households. Founded in 1901 by 14-year-old Otto Orkin, Orkin has more than 100 years of experience in pest control services and is a leader in the industry, specializing in protection against common pests including termites, rodents, and insects. In addition to pest control, the company also offers integrated plans to help protect the whole home, including insulation and moisture control services.

Speaking at the company’s launch in Accra, Head of Marketing and Operations, Paa Kow George Hagan, said Orkin is coming to introduce improved standards of pest control in the agriculture sector, which will increase yields of farmers and leads to more healthy production of foods.

He further stated that the company’s presence in the country will move industries to expect and accept international standards of pest control, as enjoyed by their counterparts operating in Europe and the Americas.

ORKIN will not lower its high standards in Ghana, but rather drive the sector to attain the standards we will provide in the country, he said. Mr. Hagan added that the company’s entry into the Ghanaian space will further create sustainable jobs, and also contribute to the fight against the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

Orkin has a national franchise to operate. This means we have the potential to create many jobs throughout the country directly: by way of employing technicians, administrators and drivers. We will therefore create even more indirect jobs, and impact positively on national employment drives to help more families have meaningful livelihoods.

“We are in the middle of a big fight against the deadliest pandemic of our time, called the coronavirus. We are also aware that being healthy at this time is one of the best ways to stay on top of the virus and its rate of infection. Very, central to this fight is pest control, which reduces the onset and incidence of disease: and to constantly fumigate premises with antibacterial agents to lower and slow down bacterial spread which aids the virus. Orkin is actively involved in the global effort to combat it, and we will surely do the same here in Ghana,” he said.

Commenting on Orkin’s entry into Ghana, a representative from the Ministry of Agriculture, Felicia Ansah Amprofi, said the company’s arrival is good news to the agriculture sector, as pest control is one of the sector’s major problems.

“Locally,30 percent of agricultural produce is lost to pests. Pests are therefore a major threat to agricultural productivity, food security. It is very important to control organic pests to provide protection against organisms that can pose health risks to humans and animals. Therefore, we welcome Orkin to Ghana’ she said.

Orkin employs nearly 8,000 team members in more than 400 locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Central America, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Asia, the Mediterranean, Africa, and Australia, serving approximately 1.7 million residential and commercial customers.

The Economy and Budget 2021: Challenges and Prospects Post COVID-19

AmCham Ghana on March 18, 2021, hosted PwC Tax Partner Abeku Gyan-Quansah and Associate Prof. at the Department of Economics and Dean of International Programmes Office at University of Ghana Eric Osei-Assibey for a discussion on the topic; The Economy and Budget 2021: Challenges and Prospects Post COVID-19 (What businesses should expect).

The speakers presented highlights of the recently approved 2021 budget, focusing on its tax elements and their implications for business administration and productivity. They also touched on the current state of the economy and some post-COVID-19 recovery measures instituted by the government of Ghana, as well as challenges and prospects these measures may pose to their businesses.

Watch the full event below.

New Member: Orkin Ghana Joins AmCham Ghana

The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, is pleased to announce the global specialist in total pest control, Orkin Ghana, as a member of the Chamber.

Orkin is a trusted expert with over a century of experience. Using a proactive approach and proven solutions, Orkin’s experienced pest management professionals will create a pest control program specifically tailored for your business and home. We offer a scientific, customized approach grounded in the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to control any pests with the least amount of chemicals.

Orkin operates in over 400 locations, serving more than a million customers.

AmCham Ghana Calls For The Speedy Implementation Of The Independent Tax Appeal Board

Executive Secretary of the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, Simon Madjie, has advocated for the speedy implementation of the Independent Tax Appeals Board to ease the litigation burden on businesses.

Speaking on the Joy Business News program on Thursday, March 18, Mr. Madjie said the speedy implementation of Act 1029, which establishes the Tax Appeals Board, will enhance the ease of doing business in the country and save time spent on litigation as affected parties can seek quick resolution from this independent body.

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Dow Supports Communication Infrastructure Connecting 50,000 People In Eastern Ghana

Dow is supporting an information and communication infrastructure pilot to reach approximately 50,000 people in Nsutem, Eastern Ghana to support improved internet and data communications connectivity. Dow’s support will help to enable the construction of a renewable energy biomass power facility which will generate sustainable incomes for thousands of smallholder farmers locally.

Through its local grantee, the Okyeman Environment Foundation (OEF), Dow has enabled the construction of a WiFi network inclusive of hardware, software and deployment of technology to support two base stations and 18 hot spots to create an information and communication infrastructure pilot covering a collective area of about 15 km radius within surrounding communities of the biomass power facility. The infrastructure allows approximately 50,000 people to connect to a WiFi network permitting affordable data communications and internet access. This Project is a grantee of the Dow Business Impact Fund, which has been identifying and funding new projects around the globe that hold the potential to create significant social impact since 2016.

“Access to modern, cleaner energy is essential to human development. For Ghana, and indeed the world over, affordable energy decreases poverty and improves quality of life, be it for jobs, security, climate change, food production or increasing incomes,” said Adwoa Coleman, Country Manager, Dow Ghana and Africa Sustainability & Advocacy Manager, Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics. “Communication infrastructure is also key for sustainable development. Access to reliable and affordable communication technologies lifts people out of poverty and helps them to overcome the digital divide. Dow’s 2025 sustainability goals aim to engage for impact and deliver breakthrough innovations, which is exactly what this project allows us to do.”

Lack of affordable access to electricity and subsequent lack of telecommunication infrastructure form the crux of the digital divide inhibiting poor rural community members from participating in meaningful socio-economic development in this region. To address this problem in a sustainable way, a 40MW biomass power plant is planned to be constructed in Nsutem, Ghana. The project has been sponsored by Village Corps and a Power Africa grant by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and has been advanced through the commitment and support of the Government of Ghana, the Akyem Abuakwa Kingdom and the Okyeman Environment Foundation.

The Project will address several UN Sustainable Development Goals, inclusive of #7 and #9 for clean and affordable energy and industry, innovation and infrastructure. The Project will not only drastically increase the access to baseload renewable electricity, but also will help mitigate climate change and assist local community members to adapt to a changing climate, which contributes to the Paris Climate Accord.

With the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) infrastructure installed and operational, community members can have affordable data connectivity and will be trained in how to use their phones to benefit from various software solutions to help enable skills development and access to valuable information in areas such as primary education, farming, and healthcare,” said Norman Beaulieu, founder of Village Corps. “WiFi infrastructure can no longer be considered a luxury, it is now an essential resource, and we believe that this project is taking important steps towards delivering this resource to an underserved community.”

The Power of a Data Strategy

In today’s digital world, most companies are flooded with data, both structured and unstructured. Indeed, data itself has become a commodity, and the mere possession of abundant amounts of data is not enough.

Businesses today experience no shortage of data in terms of quantity; the challenge is tapping into the enormous potential of that collected data and extracting value from it as a resource. Data may be the new oil, but it is only valuable if you have a reliable infrastructure.

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AmCham Ghana and ABC Nigeria to Collaborate More on Trade and Investment Issues

On January 18, 2021, the President of the Chamber, Ayesha Bedwei, and the Executive Secretary, Simon Madjie, engaged in a virtual meeting with the CEO of the American Business Council Nigeria, Margaret Olele, for a discussion on enhancing collaboration between the two organizations to advance the interest of member companies and bolster the influence of AmChams across the region. 

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