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

Promoting Trade and Investment: Minnesota-Ghana Business Roundtable and Business Reception

In collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, AmCham Ghana, on Thursday, July 7, 2022, hosted the Minnesota-Ghana Business Roundtable and a business reception in honor of the visiting trade delegation from the US state of Minnesota.

The trade delegation was led by Minnesota Africans United, with support from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The delegates included business leaders from various sectors such as agribusiness, healthcare, ICT, and renewable energy. They were in the country to explore possible partnerships to bolster trade and investment between the state of Minnesota and Ghana.

Speaking at the business roundtable, the CEO of Ghana Free Zones Authority, Dr. Mike Oquaye Jnr. stated that the free zones authority is diversifying with more focus on companies with foreign markets by providing incentives to drive production. “The Ghana Free Zones Authority used to concentrate mainly on exemptions for export, but now we are looking at a different future, and that future is giving incentives, monetary and non-monetary to companies that have foreign markets. So that is the exact kind of delegation that’s here.”

Dr. Mike Oquaye Jnr. reiterated the authority’s readiness to assist companies to establish their businesses in the country and encouraged the delegation to explore opportunities in the Agricultural sector as there are a lot of incentives that make for mutual benefits. He also noted the importance of US companies in the various industrial parks in the country. “Wherever we have had American companies as anchor tenants, we have been able to scale up in no time,” he added.

Yofi Grant,  CEO of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, said Ghana is in the middle of the world and provides a 360-degree view, putting the country in a perfect position as the logistics hub of the world. He also noted the relevance of adding value to raw materials hence the government’s focus on manufacturing through its ‘One District One Factory‘ initiative.

He noted that Ghana’s peace, stability, and constitution that prohibits expropriation serve as security and assurance to investors that their interests are protected.

Other speakers at the roundtable included Kofi Adams from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, AmCham Ghana Executive Secretary, Simon Madjie, President and CEO of Minnesota Africans United, Basil Ajuo, Assistant Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Patrice Bailey, and Laurie Kelleher, Commercial Officer, at the U.S. Embassy Ghana.

The Chamber also hosted the visiting delegates for a business reception to allow Chamber members to network and establish possible business relations.

The delegation from Minnesota included Ben Dossman from Bija Bonanicals, Micheal Birchard, VP for Diversity and Inclusion at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Alexandra Spieldoch, CEO of Bountifeild Harvest, Samuel Ngwa, President and CEO of Dessco and Safari Pride, Brian Plourde, Founder of Lema Power, Richard Ayuk from Lema Power, Martin Akinseye from Concept Media, and Isaac Owens.

2022 US – Ghana Business Forum | Leveraging AfCFTA to Promote U.S-Africa Commercial Partnerships

The U.S Chamber of Commerce and the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, will organize the 3rd high-level meeting between US and Ghanaian Government Officials and Businesses on the official visit of the Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Don Graves. The U.S.-Business Forum is aimed at deepening diplomatic and commercial partnerships between Ghana and the United States for the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). The theme for the 2022 U.S.-Ghana Business Forum is: “Leveraging the AfCFTA to Promote U.SAfrica Commercial Partnerships.” This event is in line with the drive by the AfCFTA Secretariat to engage the private sector, the African diaspora, and other strategic partners for the effective implementation of the Agreement.

When: Thursday, June 16th, 2022
Time: 9:00am-1:30pm
Where: Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra

Click Here To Register

The forum will have plenary sessions with high-level government officials as speakers; and panel discussions on pertinent topics including Customs Modernization and Supply Chain Solutions to Promote Manufacturing Within the AfCFTA Zone; and Building Sustainable Digital Economy as a driver and an enabler for successful implementation of the AfCFTA.

Speakers at the forum include Honorable Ken Ofori-Atta (Minister of Finance) Deputy Secretary Don Graves (U.S Department of Commerce) Deputy Assistant Secretary Akuna Cook (U.S Department of State) Scott Eisner (President -U. S-Africa Business Center of the U.S Chamber of Commerce) Ayesha Bedwei IBE (President- American Chamber of Commerce in Ghana) and captains of the U.S-Ghana business community. The 2022 Forum aims to strengthen trade and investment, promote business partnerships, and opportunities between U.S. and Ghanaian businesses and review the manufacturing and digital sectors as enablers for the implementation of the single market project in Africa. At the end of the conference, it is expected that U.S.-Ghana commercial partnership will be projected and enhanced, focused on improving the investment climate in Ghana and the African continent.

Participants will be brought up to date on the latest trends in trade and investment on the continent and will have the opportunity to share their experiences and identify specific investment opportunities for future transactions. The Forum is organized by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Ghana U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S Embassy in Accra.

Africa Development Bank(AfDB) Financing Options and Strategies for Projects in Ghana

The Chamber, on May 26, 2022, hosted , Senior Commercial Liaison to the African Development Bank Group, and Elvire Yéré Kodio, MBA, Commercial Specialist to the African Development Bank, for discussions on the bank’s priority areas and strategy in Ghana and also how companies can properly position themselves to engage the bank.

The meeting was on the sidelines of AfDB’s 2022 Annual Meetings held in Accra.

Ashley Ndir presented the 0pportunities for U.S. companies, steps companies must follow for a successful engagement with the bank, and AfDB’s strategy for Ghana.

The AfDB Group provides assistance through two main windows – the African Development Bank (AfDB), which lends at market-based rates, and the African Development Fund (ADF), which provides grants and concessional financing to the least developed countries of the continent. The Bank also manages Trust Funds. ​

Opportunities available at the bank includes Project Procurement, which allows the country’s government to borrow funds from the AfDB Group for a public works project (goods, works, services), Corporate Procurement, with this AfDB Group itself, runs a competition for services, goods and works for its internal needs, and finally, Private Sector Financing, this allows the U.S. and other AfDB member country private sector firms partner with AfDB Private Sector Operations on financing solutions in support of private sector activities.​

The AfDB has provided financing for projects in various sectors of the Ghanaian economy, including the transport and Agricultural sectors, with the majority of funding.

This event was held in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Ghana and the U.S. Commercial Service.

Click Here to Download Presentation

 

AmCham Ghana Meets With The New US Ambassador To Ghana

AmCham Ghana, on Monday, May 23, 2022, hosted the new U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E. Palmer, at the AmCham secretariate.

The Ambassador met with the AmCham Ghana President, Ayesha Bedwei Ibe, and the Board of Directors for discussions on protecting and promoting the interest of U.S. companies as well as collaborating more on issues of mutual interest to further strengthen relations between Ghana and the United States.

Ambassador Palmer reaffirmed her commitment to working with the Chamber in creating a favorable business environment.

Ambassador Virginia E. Palmer was previously Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources at the Department of State, overseeing U.S. foreign policy engagement at the critical intersection of our energy, climate, and national security goals.  She took up that post after serving as Deputy Commandant of the National Defense University’s Eisenhower School.

Also present at the meeting were AmCham Ghana Vice President, Pakwo Shum, Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, Dean Matlack, AmCham Ghana Board Members, including Adiki Ayitevie, Doris Afanyedey, Sulemana Abubakar, Philip Ayivor, AmCham Ghana Membership, External Relations and Project Manager, Jane Okyere-Aduachie, Economic Section Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, Stephanie Hutchison, and Commercial Officer, Laurie Kelleher.

Cargill | Processing Ghana’s Cocoa with Integrity

The Manager for Membership, External Relations, and Projects at the Chamber, Jane Okyere-Aduachie, paid a courtesy call on Aedo van der Weij, Managing Director of Cargill Ghana.

Cargill has been sourcing cocoa from Ghana for over 40 years and in 2008 opened its state-of-the-art cocoa processing facility in Tema. Today the company has around 700 employees sourcing and processing cocoa products to service food and confectionary customers locally and around the world.

 

In 2016 Cargill added a Licensed Buying Company (LBC) to its Ghanaian footprint. The LBC operations bring innovative ways to trade with our farmers emphasizing our sustainability and traceability efforts, followed by an expansion of their cocoa processing plant capacity in 2019.

Cargill is mindful of the impact its operations have on host communities and stakeholders, so the company invested $3.2 million into sustainability programming with partners CARE and the International Cocoa Initiative. They have also built new schools and provided other school infrastructure.

The company has also financially supported the Kosmos Innovation Center program, which invests in young entrepreneurs and small businesses by providing seed funding, capacity building, and mentorship through innovation challenges to promote the development of promising local startup enterprises.

Cargill works alongside farmers, producers, manufacturers, retailers, governments, and other organizations to fulfill their purpose to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way.

 

AmCham Ghana and U.S. Embassy Ghana Launch SelectUSA Summit Recruitment

AmCham Ghana, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, on Monday, April 25, 2022, hosted a business breakfast for entrepreneurs and business executives to share valuable insight on investing in the United States through the SelectUSA Program.

The event featured remarks from AmCham Ghana President, Ayesha Bedwei Ibe, who noted the importance of Ghanaian companies expanding into the American market and reiterated the Chamber’s commitment to promoting investment and prosperity between the United States and Ghana.

Officials from the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, including Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Stephanie Hutchison and Commercial Counselor Dean Matlack, also highlighted the available U.S. Government resources for investors, the United States’ strong culture of innovation, the country’s business environment, labor force, diversity of industries, and lucrative domestic consumer market.

Dean Matlack will lead the Ghanaian delegation to the SelectUSA Summit, which will be held on June 26-29, 2022, in Washington, DC.  He encouraged interested Ghanaian companies to sign up for this major networking event, if not this year, then next.

PwC, Kimanthi and Partners, and McDan Shipping and Logistics discussed market entry considerations, legal aspects of foreign direct investment, and the logistics of moving goods to support investments abroad.  United Airlines highlighted its services for travelers to the SelectUSA Summit.

This event was sponsored by  PwC Ghana, United Airlines, and MCDan Shipping Company Ltd.

For more information about attending the SelectUSA Investment Summit, the SelectUSA Program, and investing in the United States, please visit the U.S. Embassy website section for businesses and investors: https://gh.usembassy.gov/business/getting-started-usa/.

Credit: https://gh.usembassy.gov/

 

AmCham Ghana Hosts First Franchise Committee Meeting

The Chamber, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, hosted the first AmCham Ghana Franchise Committee meeting at the secretariat.

Discussions were on helping franchisees secure funding and investment for their operations in the country. The committee members who are franchise holders also shared some of their challenges in doing business in Ghana and suggested measures that could help improve the business environment for franchisees.

The AmCham Ghana Franchise Committee is an AmCham Ghana initiative supported by the  U.S. Commercial Service in Ghana and chaired by Ashok Mohinani, Executive Director of Mohinani Group which also owns all the KFC franchises in Ghana. The committee’s membership includes executives from AVIS, FedEx, Interbrand Ghana, UPS, Orkin, Dominos Pizza, Burger King, and Original American Cola.

The franchise committee aims to help build a profitable franchise ecosystem in Ghana by promoting successful franchises and advocating for laws and policies that will improve the ease of doing business for franchisees.