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

AmCham Ghana Calls For The Speedy Implementation Of The Independent Tax Appeal Board

Executive Secretary of the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, Simon Madjie, has advocated for the speedy implementation of the Independent Tax Appeals Board to ease the litigation burden on businesses.

Speaking on the Joy Business News program on Thursday, March 18, Mr. Madjie said the speedy implementation of Act 1029, which establishes the Tax Appeals Board, will enhance the ease of doing business in the country and save time spent on litigation as affected parties can seek quick resolution from this independent body.

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Dow Supports Communication Infrastructure Connecting 50,000 People In Eastern Ghana

Dow is supporting an information and communication infrastructure pilot to reach approximately 50,000 people in Nsutem, Eastern Ghana to support improved internet and data communications connectivity. Dow’s support will help to enable the construction of a renewable energy biomass power facility which will generate sustainable incomes for thousands of smallholder farmers locally.

Through its local grantee, the Okyeman Environment Foundation (OEF), Dow has enabled the construction of a WiFi network inclusive of hardware, software and deployment of technology to support two base stations and 18 hot spots to create an information and communication infrastructure pilot covering a collective area of about 15 km radius within surrounding communities of the biomass power facility. The infrastructure allows approximately 50,000 people to connect to a WiFi network permitting affordable data communications and internet access. This Project is a grantee of the Dow Business Impact Fund, which has been identifying and funding new projects around the globe that hold the potential to create significant social impact since 2016.

“Access to modern, cleaner energy is essential to human development. For Ghana, and indeed the world over, affordable energy decreases poverty and improves quality of life, be it for jobs, security, climate change, food production or increasing incomes,” said Adwoa Coleman, Country Manager, Dow Ghana and Africa Sustainability & Advocacy Manager, Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics. “Communication infrastructure is also key for sustainable development. Access to reliable and affordable communication technologies lifts people out of poverty and helps them to overcome the digital divide. Dow’s 2025 sustainability goals aim to engage for impact and deliver breakthrough innovations, which is exactly what this project allows us to do.”

Lack of affordable access to electricity and subsequent lack of telecommunication infrastructure form the crux of the digital divide inhibiting poor rural community members from participating in meaningful socio-economic development in this region. To address this problem in a sustainable way, a 40MW biomass power plant is planned to be constructed in Nsutem, Ghana. The project has been sponsored by Village Corps and a Power Africa grant by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and has been advanced through the commitment and support of the Government of Ghana, the Akyem Abuakwa Kingdom and the Okyeman Environment Foundation.

The Project will address several UN Sustainable Development Goals, inclusive of #7 and #9 for clean and affordable energy and industry, innovation and infrastructure. The Project will not only drastically increase the access to baseload renewable electricity, but also will help mitigate climate change and assist local community members to adapt to a changing climate, which contributes to the Paris Climate Accord.

With the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) infrastructure installed and operational, community members can have affordable data connectivity and will be trained in how to use their phones to benefit from various software solutions to help enable skills development and access to valuable information in areas such as primary education, farming, and healthcare,” said Norman Beaulieu, founder of Village Corps. “WiFi infrastructure can no longer be considered a luxury, it is now an essential resource, and we believe that this project is taking important steps towards delivering this resource to an underserved community.”

AmCham Ghana and ABC Nigeria to Collaborate More on Trade and Investment Issues

On January 18, 2021, the President of the Chamber, Ayesha Bedwei, and the Executive Secretary, Simon Madjie, engaged in a virtual meeting with the CEO of the American Business Council Nigeria, Margaret Olele, for a discussion on enhancing collaboration between the two organizations to advance the interest of member companies and bolster the influence of AmChams across the region. 

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AmCham Ghana President Visits Fashion Connect Africa’s Garment Factory

President of the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, Ayesha Bedwei, visited the Fashion Connect Africa garment factory to interact with management and observe the production of face masks intended to be distributed for free in rural communities to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

The production of these face masks will be handled by the FCA Garment Factory, which is reputable for producing quality clothing materials, including face masks.

The chamber recently provided Fashion Connect Africa with the seed fund for the production of the first 5000 facemasks. This is in support of the organization’s One Million Facemasks for Rural Communities Project.

Fashion Connect Africa is an emerging social enterprise established to change lives in the creative industry. The project is aimed at protecting educating and empowering individuals and families living in rural communities by the wearing of face masks and practicing safety measures such as the washing of the hands and application of hand sanitizers.

AmCham Ghana Supports Fashion Connect Africa For The One Million Facemasks For Rural Communities Project

The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility and contribution towards the fight against the COVID-19 in Ghana, is supporting Fashion Connect Africa for their One Million Facemasks for Rural Communities project aimed at providing facemasks to the residence in rural communities to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus.

The project will involve the production and distribution of quality face masks to rural communities.

Through this project, more people will be engaged to help produce and distribute the facemasks. This will ensure that they have a source of income for a period of time and are empowered to provide for their ends meet.

Speaking at the official launch of the project in Accra, the chamber’s president, Ayesha Bedwei, reiterated the importance of adhering to the safety protocols and the vital role of the project to further enhance safety and protection against the virus in the rural areas.

”Every year as AmCham, we support a corporate social responsibility initiative and I was pleased to select Fashion Connect Africa’s one million mask project, mainly because it is very relevant particularly due to the coronavirus pandemic. It is important that we keep sanitizing our hands and also wearing masks.”

” The one million masks project will focus on providing the much-needed masks to people in the rural areas and that is something that we can definitely stand behind as the American Chamber of Commerce,” She added.

AmCham Ghana provided Fashion Connect Africa with the seed fund for the production of the first 5000 facemasks.

”To ensure that rural dwellers keep themselves safe during this period, we are embarking on the One Million Face Masks For Rural Communities Project which will involve the production and distribution of quality and treated face masks to the rural poor across the most neglected districts in Ghana.” Victoria Michaels of Fashion Connect Africa remarked during the launch.

Also present at the event was the Deputy Minister for Education in charge of Technical & Vocational Education Training, Gifty Twum Ampofo, Ambassador of European Union of Ghana, Her Excellency Ms. Diana Acconcia, and some traditional rulers.

Webinar: Financing the Franchising Sector – A Workshop for the Finance Industry in Ghana

The Foreign Commercial Service of the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, in collaboration with AmCham Ghana and the Africa Franchise Centre (AFC) Lagos, on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, hosted a webinar on Financing the Franchising Sector. The event was a workshop to educate and expose players in the finance industry to the concept of franchise financing.

The event provided an understanding of how the franchising sector works, becoming aware of how to unlock it, as well as identify some reasons why people are hesitant to finance franchises.

The presenter, Emma Esinnah, Country Director, Curves International, Nigeria, took participants through the transaction dynamics to help make informed decisions when appraising proposals.

 

The global franchising industry is a $3 trillion (estimated) industry with products and services in over 300 business categories.

Emma Esinnah also highlighted some of the benefits franchising, such as risk avoidance associated with start-ups, reduction in start-ups cost and time, and proven products, services, and operational methods. Mr. Asinnah believes these benefits make franchising a strategy for business growth which benefits the economy and the banks.

He also presented a case study of South Africa’s franchising sector, which according to a 2019 report, by the Franchising Association of South Africa (FASA) is over 15.7% to GDP, and employs over 343,000 people.

Mr. Asinnah noted that the success of a franchise depends on its system and encouraged bankers and stakeholders to take a keen interest in finding out the strengths and limits of a franchise’s operational system. He also advised that bankers praise the franchise and not the franchisee, as findings revealed people who mostly succeed with franchises have no prior business experience.

According to Mr. Asinnah, the banking sector has played an instrumental role in the success story of the South African franchising industry by creating special products and services specifically tailored to suit the sector. He also dismissed the assertion that the influx of foreign franchises stifles local businesses, he said instead when managed well, franchising can help grow local businesses to international standards.

Present at the webinar was the AmCham Ghana Executive Secretary, Simon Majie, who delivered the closing remarks and acknowledged the importance of franchising to the development of local businesses.

Also present were Hannah Kamenetsky, Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy Ghana, and Paul Arinze, President at Pedestal Africa Ltd.