U.S. National Bar Association Delegation visit AmCham Ghana Secretariat

On Tuesday, April 8, the American Chamber of Commerce in Ghana, along with the  U.S. National Bar Association (NBA) President Wiley Adams, NBA AfCFTA Initiative co-chairs Barbara Simmons and Johanna LeBlanc, and other members of the delegation, paid a courtesy visit to the secretariat.

The meeting focused on strategic opportunities to exchange insights, explore collaboration, and gain a deeper understanding of AmCham Ghana’s initiatives. Discussions highlighted the Chamber’s key efforts to strengthen U.S.-Ghana business relations, attract investment, and position Ghana as a prime destination for international investors. The National Bar Association (NBA), the nation’s oldest and largest network of predominantly African American attorneys and judges, has signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat to support the effective implementation of the agreement. This landmark partnership reflects the NBA’s ongoing commitment to advancing economic empowerment, legal capacity, and investment opportunities across the African continent.

One of the key pillars of the MoU is to facilitate and encourage increased investments into Africa, aligning with the goals of the AfCFTA to create a unified, prosperous, and sustainable economic bloc.

This engagement marks a significant step in the NBA’s broader mission to serve as a bridge between the U.S. legal and business communities and the emerging opportunities on the African continent.

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AU Ambassador to the U.S. Visits AmCham Ghana

On the 5th of December 2024, the African Union (AU) Ambassador to the U.S., H.E. Hilda Suka-Mafudze, paid a courtesy visit to the Secretariat. H.E. Hilda Suka-Mafudze met with board members from leading companies, including Delta Air Lines, Coca-Cola, Newmont Corporation, and PwC. The discussions focused on key business challenges in Ghana and across Africa, addressing market mobilization, scaling opportunities, and fostering integration between smaller businesses and larger enterprises.

The Secretariat also highlighted progress on the AfCFTA and AGOA, alongside deliberations on U.S. interests in supporting skilled workforce development to bolster economic growth. The conversation underscored the importance of collaboration in driving sustainable business growth and enhancing regional economic integration.

Implications of the AfCFTA Investment Protocol for Business in the Continent

AmCham Ghana, under the auspices of the AmCham Ghana AfCFTA Resource Center, hosted ,

The principal objective of this Protocol is to support the objectives of the AfCFTA as set out in Articles 3 and 4 of the Agreement, to promote, facilitate and protect investments that foster sustainable development of State Parties, establish a transparent and sound continental legal framework on investment, taking into account the interests of State Parties, investors and local communities, provide security and predictability in the prevention and management of investment disputes, create a level playing field for African investors, and promote and enhance common positions and cooperation on matters related to investment promotion, facilitation and protection.

According to Patience Okala, the Protocol is the new forward-looking framework for investment regulation on the African continent. It presents itself as the platform for meeting the profit expectations of investors as well as the sustainable development aspirations of African countries.

This Protocol defines the rights and obligations of State Parties and investors and applies to State Parties, as defined in Article 1(v) of the Agreement, and to investors and investments as defined in Article 1 of this Protocol, as well as all investments made before or after the entry into force of the Protocol but shall not apply to any investment dispute that arose or any claim that was settled before the entry into force of the Protocol. Learn more.

 

AmCham Ghana Signs MoU With Emory University And The Global African Partners

The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Emory University’s Emory Development Initiative (EDI), an Atlanta, Georgia-based private university established in 1836, and the Global African Partners (GAP) to facilitate trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The parties will collaborate to offer virtual and in-person certificated corporate executive training programs granted under Emory University and the EDI on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and African trade, primarily targeting the U.S, African private sector, and non-profit professionals seeking understanding and implications of the AfCFTA, headquartered in Accra.

The parties will also collaborate on joint research and grant proposals on subjects related to U.S-Africa economic and cultural engagement and areas of common interest.

The parties of this MoU are AmCham Ghana AfCFTA Resource Center – An American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana initiative dedicated to breaching the information gap for U.S and International businesses on the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement, EDI– an Emory University initiative that promotes economic growth and development across emerging and developing economies through courses, events, and external projects, GAP – an advisory and consulting firm bridging the cultural and economic gap between Africa and the Global market through trade and investment facilitation based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Emory University was represented by Dr. Sam Cherribi, Director of the EDI, Matilda Arhin represented the GAP, and Simon Madjie, Executive Director, represented the AmCham AfCFTA Resource Center.

 

About AmCham Ghana

The Chamber 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. AmCham exists to promote commercial, economic, educational, and cultural ties between the United States of America and the Republic of Ghana. The chamber is an affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which is the world’s largest business association with over one million members worldwide.

About Emory University

Emory University is a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1836 as “Emory College” by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named in honor of Methodist bishop John Emory, Emory is the second-oldest private institution of higher education in Georgia.