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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During this year’s Data Protection Week, the American Chamber of Commerce in Ghana brought together members, partners, and regulators to discuss the evolving landscape of privacy, cross‑border data flows, and digital trade. AmCham Ghana CEO Doris Kafui Afanyedey opened the webinar by welcoming members and the Ghana Data Protection Commission (DPC) for the collaboration.  Ms. Doris emphasized that, as data underpins innovation in financial services, trade, and service delivery, it is essential to establish trust and compliance frameworks that support both local and multinational companies operating in Ghana.

The webinar aimed to focus on practical steps to build a robust privacy ecosystem while fostering cross‑border data flows, including:

• Clarifying Ghana’s data protection and regulatory expectations for local and multinational businesses
• Examining cross-border data flows in the context of cloud services, fintech, AI, and digital trade
• Highlighting how strong data governance builds trust, competitiveness, and investor confidence
• Providing practical guidance for CIOs, compliance, legal, and ICT leaders navigating data risk and opportunity

The key Speaker for the webinar, Quintin Nero Jones Akrobotu,  Director of Regulatory Compliance at the Data Protection Commission, emphasized that under Section 58 of the Data Protection Act, data controllers must appoint certified data protection supervisors who understand Ghana’s legal framework and can monitor compliance.  He reiterated that the Commission has published training guidelines for the Certified Data Protection Supervisor (CDPS) program, which equips professionals with practical skills to interpret the Act, support internal compliance frameworks, and handle data subject requests.  By investing in local certification, multinationals demonstrate respect for Ghanaian data subjects and strengthen their own governance structures.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of cross‑border data flows for Ghana’s digital economy.  According to a 2025 issue brief by the Future of Privacy Forum, cross‑border transfers are critical to Africa’s digital trade and are recognized in the African Union Data Policy Framework.  The protocol on digital trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) calls for free flow of data while respecting privacy and security.  Mr. Akrobotu noted that Ghana’s alignment with these frameworks will help businesses leverage cloud services, fintech platforms and artificial‑intelligence systems while safeguarding personal data.

In a Q&A session, participants asked about the use of AI in recruitment and the rights of candidates subjected to automated decisions.  Mr. Akrobotu clarified that individuals have the right to be informed when automated decision‑making is used and may request a human review of decisions.  He reminded employers that data‑driven technologies must be deployed responsibly and that individuals have the right to explain the circumstances behind adverse inferences.  Such safeguards protect privacy while allowing innovation. He also clarified that companies outside of Ghana can still register with the DPC after they receive a Tax Identification Number (TIN) from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

 

Finally, the DPC highlighted its Privacy Seal programme, which recognizes organizations that demonstrate strong privacy practices and compliance.  Businesses were encouraged to apply for the seal as a public commitment to accountability.  The Chamber will continue working with the DPC to ensure members have access to training and guidance.

The 2026 Africa Trade Summit officially opened on Wednesday at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra, bringing together Heads of State, ministers, development finance leaders, and private sector executives to advance Africa’s industrial and trade transformation.

Organised by the African Trade Chamber, the two-day summit is focused on financing Africa’s industrialisation through value chain development, beneficiation, and deeper market integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

AmCham Ghana participated in the summit with a delegation led by its Chief Executive Officer, Doris Afanyedey, underscoring the Chamber’s commitment to promoting private sector engagement, trade facilitation, and industrial development across Africa.

Opening the summit, President John Dramani Mahama underscored the urgency for Africa to move beyond raw material exports toward manufacturing and value addition. He noted that while Africa is rich in natural resources, it continues to capture only a fraction of global industrial value, a situation that must change if the continent is to create jobs and retain wealth.

The Executive Chair of the African Trade Chamber, Benedicta Lasi, emphasised that Africa’s challenge is no longer about vision but execution, highlighting the need for coordinated industrial policies, reliable energy, efficient infrastructure, and long-term capital to support private sector investment.

Special addresses from UNIDO and Ghana’s Ministry of Trade reinforced the message that AfCFTA is not just a trade agreement but an industrial framework that rewards preparation, competitiveness, and regional integration.

Discussions throughout Day One highlighted the critical role of the private sector, development finance institutions, and regional cooperation in translating policy commitments into measurable industrial outcomes.

As part of Day One proceedings, a Ministerial Dialogue on Industrial Policy, Local Content and Value Creation was held under the theme “Accelerating Africa’s Industrial Transformation: Converting Extraction into Value and Building Industrial Champions.” The session was moderated by Simon Madjie, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC).

Panelists included H.E. Fatou Haidara, Deputy Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); Hon. Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Minister of International Relations and Trade of the Republic of Namibia; and Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Ghana’s Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry.

The ministers emphasised the importance of robust industrial policy, effective local content frameworks, and regional value chains in transforming Africa’s extractive sectors into engines of value creation, employment, and competitiveness.

The summit continues today with ministerial dialogues, infrastructure and connectivity plenaries, and private sector engagement sessions aimed at advancing implementation.