AmCham Ghana Engages Ministry Of Finance On Digital Taxation

The American Chamber of Commerce engaged the head of tax policy at the ministry of finance on Thursday, July 1st in Accra to discuss the government’s role out of taxing the digital economy.

The Chamber members present were drawn from the digital sector and it was an opportunity for them to make input into the ongoing taxation of the digital economy.

Mr. Daniel Nuer, Head of Tax Policy at the Ministry of Finance outlined the legal regimes for taxation of the digital economy. He also assured his audience that government will soon produce guidelines to define the process of paying taxes within the digital sector. “Our VAT and Income Tax laws have provisions for tax e-commerce activities, the guidelines to implement these laws will soon be available to assist companies to be compliant especially for non-resident entities.”

The discussions also addressed the issue of taxation on micropayments made online, the expansion of payment options, and the plight of non-resident entities in the digital economy. PwC and KPMG made presentations on best practices from some jurisdictions on the topic and encouraged the ministry to make the guidelines readily available.

Members of the committee present or represented at this meeting, included; VISA, Mastercard, TechGulf, Uber, Emergent, American Tower Corporation, Google, and officials of the U.S Embassy.

AmCham Ghana Networks Over Beer And Bites

On June 24, 2021, Django Brothers and Smoke ‘n’ Barrel hosted AmCham Ghana for a networking event at the Smoke ‘n’ Barrel bar and restaurant.

The event was to allow members to interact and network in a relaxed and casual environment. It also featured raffle draws with some members winning exciting prizes.

Smoke ‘n’ Barrel is all about its outside space. Wooden seating and planks behind a long bar create a homey atmosphere where ex-pats and locals meet to sip on beers and drinks.

The place features Takeout, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Free off-street parking, Television, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Table Service, Delivery, and Outdoor Seating.

Django Bros is West Africa’s first manufacturer of Craft beer & Beverages. Their Beers are handcrafted with the finest ingredients. Their vision is to brew flavorful & unique handcrafted beers, delivering an exquisite experience to the community.

Django currently has three beers IPA, WEISS & LAGER. Our Mixers are one of a kind & we believe they enhance the pleasure of the spirit they are consumed with. Their range includes Tonic water, Hibiscus Tonic water, Soda Water, Ginger Ale, Bitter Lemon & Smoky Cola Recommendation: Try the IPA beer for a treat of flavor & Aroma & Gin with our hibiscus tonic.

Remarks By AmCham Ghana As Delivered By Simon Madjie To Senator Chris Van Hollen (Chair of the Subcommittee on Africa & Global Health Policy) | Africa-AmCham Summit

Senator Chris Van Hollen, thank you for taking the time to meet with us today. I’m Simon Madjie from AmCham Ghana and we have 120 members who are actively promoting a strong trade and investment relationship between the U.S and Ghana. AmCham Ghana has been the representative arm of U.S businesses and subsidiaries in Ghana for 32 years.

Bilateral trade between the United States and Ghana is about $1.8 billion and U.S FDI stock in Ghana in 2019 is about $1.6 billion. The United States and Ghana signed the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement in 1999 and in 2018, the two countries signed the Memorandum of Understanding to promote trade and investment in strategic sectors during the visit of Secretary Wilbur Ross and members of the PAC-DBIA to Ghana.

Ghana has since been chosen to host the secretariat of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and trading within the Continent has commenced. “As we say in Africa, he who contributes to the building of a house will have a room in that home” This is the time, Honorable Senator, for the U.S Congress to assist Africa to build a credible and inclusive trade bloc, which will make it easier for U.S investors and traders to navigate the market. Areas of support may include; the digital economy, women and youth participation in trade, intellectual property rights protection, customs harmonization, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

I’m happy to announce that Marriott International and Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland are some U.S companies from your home region making a significant contribution to Ghana’s development. At this point, I wish to request that more support is required from Congress to protect U.S companies during business aboard especially exporters of U.S goods and services.

The U.S business community in Ghana and on the Continent joins the call for the developed world to make available vaccines to combat the deadly COVID-19 virus. The U.S administration is commended for its bold plan to make available 500 million doses and the easing of the TRIPS agreement to allow less endowed countries to manufacture vaccines.

Again, thank you very much for meeting with us. Should you be interested in more information about Ghana and the AmCham, I would be delighted to follow up separately.

Advance With Africa AmCham Summit – Day 1

On June 16, 2021, the U.S. – Africa Business Center hosted AmChams from across the continent,  partners, stakeholders, and some government officials for the virtual Advance with Africa AmCham Summit to share the U.S. Chamber’s priorities and expectations for the new U.S. Government’s Administration as well as to strengthen advocacy capabilities to facilitate the ease of doing business in respective markets across Africa.

Day one of the summit featured a Presidential address from Ghana’s President, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo on the Future of U.S. -Africa Economic Relations. The President reiterated the importance of the summit and the need to promote cooperation among countries to fight COVID -19 and foster shared prosperity. ”The importance of this event cannot be lost on anyone, especially as the nations of the world strengthen their cooperation to eliminate the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

”It is in the mutual interest of Africa and the United States of America, and indeed the rest of the world to forge relationships that will guarantee prosperity for us all,” the President added.

Other speakers at the summit included Scott Eisner, President of U.S.-Africa Business Center (USAfBC) at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who delivered the welcome remarks, touching on the importance of making Africa engagement a presidential priority, capacity building to support the African continent’s free trade area, deepening and expanding the progress of a whole-of-government approach to enhance the competitiveness of U.S businesses on the continent, and engaging leaders on the continent on policy and regulatory practices to support the growth of the digital economy and trade.

The summit also featured remarks from Don Graves, Deputy Secretary of Commerce at the U.S. Department of Commerce on the State of U.S.-Africa Trade and Investment Relations, and Dana Banks, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Africa at the National Security Council, who presented An Overview of the Biden-Harris Africa Policy. 

The event also hosted panel discussions on Using the AfCFTA as a Vehicle for African Economic Recovery and Tools for Expanding U.S. Commercial in Africa.

WATCH THE FULL SEMINAR HERE

PSCAG Discusses Government’s Revenue Mobilization Drive

The Private Sector Anti-Corruption Group (PSCAG), an association-led institution made up of various Chambers in the country, held a closed-door discussion with officials of the Ghana Revenue Authority to assist the country to increase domestic revenue mobilization and discuss some associated challenges with tax collection.

The encounter held on Wednesday, June 10 at the Villa Boutique Hotel in Osu was attended by representatives of the GRA, PwC, KPMG, EY, and heads of the various Chambers of Commerce in the country.

Speaking on reforms at the GRA to aid tax collection, Deputy Commissioner Daniel Edisi, outlined new digital approaches to mobilize revenue across various sectors of the economy.

“Payment of taxes will be cashless and digital to speed up time spent paying taxes and improve accountability in the tax collection process”

In answering questions on the perception of harassment from GRA officials, Mr. Edisi urged the attendees to take advantage of the newly created Tax Audit and Quality Assurance Department (TAQA) to report such officers for investigations and swift sanctions applied.

“Report these recalcitrant officers on condition of unanimity to TAQA and they will be punished accordingly if investigated and found guilty”

Mr. Dominic Naab and Mr. Victor Akogo, also of the GRA addressed attendees and answered questions about withholding taxes, VAT, exemptions, and tax assessment. They advised businesses to desist from making false representations during tax audits. The trade associations also applauded the government for its digital drive in tax collection but urged the GRA to communicate and engage with businesses on regular basis. They also called on the government as a matter of urgency to broaden the tax net and operationalize the TAX APPEALS BOARD.

 

About PSCAG

PSACG is a private sector association formed by the U.K-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC), American Chamber of Commerce-Ghana(AMCHAM), Canada Ghana Chamber of Commerce (CANCHAM), Ghana Netherlands Business and Culture Council (GNBCC), French Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ghana (FCCIG), and the Association of Ghanaian Industries (AGI) in 2018 with the goal of addressing practices that impact the private sector negatively through advocacy and strategic dialogues.

 

The New US/Africa Relations Webinar

The American Business Council Nigeria, in partnership with the US Chamber of Commerce, AmCham Ghana, AmCham Kenya, and AmCham South Africa, held a webinar to highlight the critical concerns by African Nations and the US Business Community in Africa as well as chart the way forward for the US-Africa relationship.

The meeting featured remarks by the President of the U.S.- Africa Business Center/Sr. Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Scott Eisner, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambs. Mary Beth Leonard, President of the American Business Council Nigeria, Dipo Faulkner, AmCham Ghana President, Ayesha Bedwei, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Akunna Cook, and AmCham South Africa President, Angela Russell.

The event also featured a panel consisting of Terence P. McCulley, Senior Director Africa Practice for McLarty Associates, Aubrey Hruby, Senior Fellow at the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council, and Akunna Cook for a discussion on U.S. – African relations.

AmCham Ghana Hosts Farewell Luncheon For Economic Section Chief – Hagen Maroney

AmCham Ghana, on Friday, May 28, 2021, hosted the Economic Section Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, Hagen Maroney, for a farewell luncheon with the Chamber Executives.

Mr. Maroney has been instrumental in promoting and further strengthening economic relations between the United States and Ghana through several engagements with stakeholders and has actively participated in Chamber activities, contributing immensely to its development.

The luncheon was to formally extend AmCham Ghana’s appreciation for his service and contributions. Present at the lunch were the President of the Chamber, Ayesha Bedwei, the Vice President, Pakwo Shum, Former Presidents, Joe Mensah and Philippe Ayivor, and Executive Secretary of the Chamber, Simon Madjie.

The Chamber Executives expressed their appreciation for his works and wished him the best in his future endeavors.

 

 

AmCham Ghana – United Airline Corporate Breakfast

In collaboration with United Airlines on May 17, 2021, AmCham Ghana engaged members for a corporate breakfast hosted by United’s  VP for International Network & Alliances, Patrick Quayle.

The Corporate Breakfast meeting was to afford United the opportunity to introduce their new services and the airline’s leadership team to the American business community in Ghana.

On May 16, 2021, United re-launched its services to Ghana with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Washington D.C. AmCham Ghana President, Ayesha Bedwei, assured United’s Executives that the Chamber is committed to assisting the airline navigate the local business environment for profitable operations.

All United’s 787 Dreamliners are outfitted with the new cabins. You’ll find 28 Polaris pods, 21 Premium Plus recliners, 36 extra-legroom Economy Plus, and 158 coach seats on these retrofitted jets.

The airline is scheduled to run a thrice-weekly service from Kotoka International Airport to Dulles International. Learn more

United has eight hubs, with Chicago–O’Hare being its largest in terms of passengers carried and the number of departures. They are also a founding member of the Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance with a total of 28 member airlines.

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