U.S.-Ghana Executive Business Roundtable with H.E. President John Dramani Mahama.

The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana (AmCham Ghana), and the U.S. Chamber was honored to participate in a high-level roundtable today with H.E. President John Dramani Mahama. The meeting, facilitated by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and its CEO, Simon Madjie, offered members a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the President about his government’s policy priorities and vision for advancing Ghana’s economic growth.

President Mahama emphasized his administration’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment and attracting new investments. He reaffirmed that the minimum capital requirement for foreign investors will be eliminated across all sectors, except those specifically reserved for Ghanaians, a long-anticipated reform that will significantly ease market entry and encourage greater U.S. business participation.

In a further boost to the investment climate, the President announced that registration with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) will soon be completed within 24 hours, cutting red tape and accelerating the establishment process for new businesses. He also confirmed that, beginning next year, Ghana will introduce e-visas, making travel and business access to the country faster and more efficient.

These reforms underscore the government’s determination to make Ghana one of the most attractive destinations for trade and investment in the region. For AmCham members, they present new opportunities to expand operations, deepen partnerships, and contribute to Ghana’s economic transformation.

Participants included the President of the AmCham Board Kimathi Kuenhyia and CEO of AmCham Doris Kafui Afanyedey.

Ghana is indeed open for business!

Cummins GM came visiting as part of the listening tour

On Friday, September 19, 2025, the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana (AmCham Ghana), welcomed Patrice Ndzana, General Manager of Cummins Ghana, to our offices as part of the ongoing Member Listening Tour.

The visit created space for an open and engaging conversation about Cummins’ operations in Ghana, its contributions to industrial growth, and the challenges shaping the broader business environment.

Cummins, known globally for its reliable power solutions and engine technologies, has been making significant investments in Ghana. Recent projects include the delivery of six QSK95 engines for new tugboats at Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority, repowering five dewatering pumps at Gold Fields’ Tarkwa mine, expanding service facilities in Tarkwa and Kumasi, and installing two 900 kVA standby generators at CalBank’s Head Office.

Beyond business, Cummins continues to invest in people—employing a predominantly Ghanaian workforce and advancing technical training to equip local talent for highly skilled roles.

The dialogue with Patrice reinforced the value of the Listening Tour: keeping the Chamber connected to members’ experiences, ensuring their perspectives shape advocacy, and strengthening partnerships that drive U.S.–Ghana trade and investment

AmCham – Google AI Business Dialogue and Networking Event 2025

Yesterday, September 16, 2025, the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana (AmCham Ghana), in partnership with Google, hosted the AI Business Dialogue and Networking Event at the Google AI Office in Accra. The program brought together executives, entrepreneurs, and technology leaders to explore the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in business and the workplace.

Delivering her remarks at the engagement, AmCham CEO Doris Kafui Afanyedey highlighed the transformative potential of AI while emphasizing the responsibility to use these tools ethically and inclusively. She reaffirmed AmCham Ghana’s mission to provide platforms that connect U.S. companies, Ghanaian businesses, and entrepreneurs in leveraging emerging technologies for growth and competitiveness.

Jason Hickey, Senior Research Scientist at Google DeepMind, traced the history of AI from regression models to today’s large language models (LLMs), helping participants contextualize how far the technology has come and where it is headed. Perry Nelson, Country Lead at Google, then led participants through live demonstrations of Gemini for Work and Notebook LLM, showcasing practical applications to boost workplace productivity and collaboration.

Conversations throughout the event focused on the ethical use of AI, the risks of generated content, and practical strategies to ensure accountability and trust in business applications. Participants also raised thought-provoking questions on how AI can support knowledge preservation, creativity, and industry-specific innovation, highlighting both opportunities and challenges.

 

The program concluded with networking and refreshments, providing a platform for collaboration and exchange among stakeholders committed to shaping Ghana’s digital and business future responsibly.

AmCham Ghana Joins Stakeholder Consultation on New Investment Promotion Bill

Last Friday, on the sidelines of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre’s (GIPC) stakeholder consultation, our CEO, Doris Kafui Afanyedey, and Communications Officer, Albert Ludwig, joined the discussions alongside private sector representatives, including Adjoba Kyiamah, Executive Director of the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC).

The session brought together both public and private sector voices to review the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA) Bill, 2025, set to replace the GIPC Act, 2013 (Act 865). Once passed, the Bill will establish GIPA as the lead government agency for promoting, facilitating, and regulating investments into and within Ghana.

 

Mr. Simon Madjie, CEO of GIPC, emphasized that stakeholder contributions are key to shaping the Bill, noting that the process is designed to build consensus and create a legal framework that responds to the realities of Ghana’s investment climate. He also highlighted that the Bill addresses persistent issues such as fronting and regulatory inconsistencies.

From the legal perspective, Ms. Naa Lamle Orleans-Lindsay, Director of GIPC’s Legal Division, explained why the law needs updating after more than three decades. She pointed to reforms such as expanding the Authority’s mandate, revising its governance framework, and reviewing minimum foreign capital requirements, measures aimed at strengthening investor protection and driving sustainable growth.

 

The consultation ended with an interactive Q&A session, where both public and private sector participants, including AmCham Ghana and UKGCC, shared perspectives, raised concerns, and contributed meaningfully to shaping Ghana’s investment future.

Mantrac MD Pierre Lambert Hill meets AmCham CEO Doris Afanyedey

Earlier today, September 11, 2025, Doris Afanyedey, CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana (AmCham Ghana), visited Pierre Lambert Hill Managing Director of Mantrac Ghana in Accra as part of the CEO Listening Tour and engaged with the company’s leadership team.

Mantrac Ghana, the authorized Caterpillar dealer in the country, has operated in Ghana for over 88 years, supplying heavy machinery and equipment for the construction, mining, and energy sectors. The company employs a predominantly Ghanaian workforce, with over 97% of its staff being local, and continues to make significant investments in skills development and technical training, having trained more than 2,000 technicians in recent years.

One of Mantrac’s flagship contributions is its $60 million Component Rebuild Centre (CRC) in Takoradi, the largest of its kind in West Africa, which enhances the company’s ability to support mining and infrastructure projects across the region. Despite challenges such as evolving regulatory requirements, import restrictions on equipment, and increasing competition from low-cost suppliers, Mantrac remains committed to operating transparently, building local capacity, and sustaining Ghana’s industrial growth.

Through its investments, Mantrac Ghana continues to position itself as a trusted partner in driving innovation, supporting infrastructure development, and advancing Ghana’s broader extractives and construction industries.

Baker Hughes Hosts AmCham CEO Doris Afanyedey

On Thursday, September 4, 2025, Doris Afanyedey visited Baker Hughes Ghana in Accra as part of the CEO Listening Tour and engaged with the company’s leadership team. Baker Hughes, a global energy technology company formed through the merger of GE Oil & Gas and Baker Hughes, has operated in Ghana for nearly two decades.

Doris met with John Swatson, Senior Sales Operations Manager; William Yeboah, Local Content & Government Accounts Manager; and Daniel O., Sales & Commercial (Subsurface), and the discussions focused on:Baker Hughes’ ongoing priorities in Ghana’s oil & gas sector and the broader energy transition.

  • Key challenges faced by multinational energy firms, including local content requirements and taxation,
  • Opportunities for collaboration with AmCham Ghana in advocacy, energy transition dialogues, and local capacity building initiatives.

Baker Hughes reaffirmed its commitment to Ghana’s energy sector and expressed strong interest in working closely with AmCham Ghana’s Energy, Extractives & Infrastructure Board Sector Committee.

This partnership will help strengthen AmCham’s advocacy in the energy space, support Ghana’s transition to sustainable energy, and create new avenues for collaboration between U.S. businesses and Ghana’s energy industry.

Baker Hughes company provides upstream services across subsurface drilling and completions, surface and wellhead equipment, and industrial turbomachinery, while also supporting local operations with a 12-acre base in Ghana that includes workshops, climate-controlled stores, and laydown facilities.

Through these investments, Baker Hughes contributes to Ghana’s energy sector by enabling efficient oil and gas operations, building local capability, and offering infrastructure that can support cross-sector needs. The company remains a key partner in advancing innovation, knowledge transfer, and sustainable growth within Ghana’s extractives industry.

AmCham CEO Doris Afanyedey visits UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce.

On Friday, September 5, 2025, the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana (AmCham Ghana) held a strategic meeting with the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC) in Accra. The discussions were led by Doris K. Afanyedey, CEO of AmCham Ghana, and Adjoba Kyiamah, Executive Director of the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce.

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The meeting was very constructive and centered around how AmCham Ghana and the UK–Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC) can explore new avenues for collaboration and strengthening bilateral chamber relations.

The discussions highlighted past partnerships, including multi-chamber networking events, joint advocacy on investment climate issues, and engagements with key government agencies. Both chambers reaffirmed the importance of speaking with a united voice on matters affecting their members, particularly around taxation.

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Moving forward, AmCham and UKGCC agreed to deepen collaboration through:

  • Structured joint advocacy platforms, including policy briefs on the ease of doing business.
  • Sector-specific programs in areas such as energy transition, digital economy, healthcare, and logistics.
  • Joint trade and investment missions, fostering U.S.–UK–Ghana triangular business partnerships.
  • SME and skills development initiatives to build capacity for Ghanaian businesses.

This renewed partnership positions both chambers as stronger allies in advancing a favourable business environment and expanding opportunities for their members.

               

The UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce plays a vital role in promoting trade and investment between the United Kingdom and Ghana. Through its focus on market access, regulatory services, advocacy, and trade missions, UKGCC connects businesses with key stakeholders, including government agencies, regulators, and investors, while also providing fee-based trade support such as research, partner searches, and business registration services.

AmCham Ghana meets with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, France

On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana (AmCham Ghana) met with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry France Ghana (CCI France Ghana) at the latter’s Accra offices. The meeting brought together AmCham Ghana CEO Doris K. Afanyedey and CCI France Ghana Managing Director Maxine Reindorf-Partey and her leadership team to explore opportunities for deeper collaboration.

The purpose of the meeting was to explore areas of synergy between the two chambers, understanding CCI France Ghana’s structure, membership base, and advocacy priorities, while also identifying avenues for joint programs in networking, sectoral engagement, and policy advocacy.

As a member of CCI France International, CCI France Ghana has been promoting French bilateral business interests in Ghana since 2014, now supporting over 145 companies across key sectors like transport, logistics, agriculture, energy, and mining. With French investment stock in Ghana valued at approximately €2.5 billion, supporting around 50,000 jobs, their contribution to the economy remains significant.

Both chambers agreed that by coming together as a strong, united voice, they can better address shared business challenges, advocate effectively with policymakers, and strengthen investor confidence. Collaboration will also focus on structured matchmaking, joint CEO roundtables, and cross-chamber programs, ensuring businesses have the right platforms to thrive in Ghana’s evolving investment climate.

AmCham Ghana CEO engages with the Canada Chamber of Commerce, Ghana

On Monday, September 1, 2025, the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana (AmCham Ghana) held a strategic meeting at the Canada Chamber of Commerce in Ghana. The discussions were led by Doris K. Afanyedey, CEO of AmCham Ghana, and Edwina Atta-Sonno, Executive Secretary of the Canada Chamber of Commerce.

The Canada Chamber of Commerce plays a vital role in Ghana by connecting Canadian businesses to the country’s growing economy. With active engagement in energy, mining, logistics, and the agri-value chain, the Chamber supports trade, investment, and knowledge exchange while fostering partnerships in education and workforce development.

The purpose of the visit was to strengthen collaboration between AmCham Ghana and CanCham Ghana to enhance member value, advance joint advocacy, and create a stronger platform for North American businesses in Ghana.

 

They also explored opportunities to collaboration on investment missions (Canada–Ghana, U.S.–Ghana, trilateral partnerships). This would involve identifying areas where North American companies can jointly explore opportunities in Ghana (renewable energy, infrastructure, healthcare, technology).

Google AI Research Center Launches Community Engagement Hub to Drive Local Innovation

Google AI Research Africa, based in Accra, has announced a major step forward in its mission to harness artificial intelligence for social good: the creation of a dedicated AI Community Engagement Center.

The new hub will support local innovators, startups, and researchers by providing access to cloud credits, mentorship, and global visibility. It builds on Google’s long-term commitment to advancing AI in Africa while equipping the next generation with resources to solve pressing local and global challenges.

As part of this initiative, Google Research Africa is also scaling up its student residency program, which hosts master’s students for six-month applied research residencies. This pipeline is designed to give young African talent the opportunity to work on frontier AI problems while contributing solutions tailored to the region.

 

The launch underscores Google’s belief that AI must be inclusive, collaborative, and beneficial to communities. Projects already making global impact include:

  • Flood Forecasting Models to predict riverine and urban floods.
  • The Open Buildings Dataset, mapping 1.8 billion buildings worldwide and used by governments and the UN for census, vaccination campaigns, and urban planning.
  • Plant Health AI apps that detect crop diseases and boost agricultural productivity.
  • African Language Models, created with the University of Ghana, covering Twi, Ewe, Dagbani, and more to enable speech-to-text, subtitling, and accessibility applications.