ATC Ghana And American Tower Foundation COVID-19 Relief Efforts

ATC Ghana has through its philanthropic initiatives, responded to the ongoing COVID-19 Relief efforts by donating to hospitals and other institutions involved in the fight against the pandemic in Ghana.

The company donated medical supplies and personal hygiene products to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital. The items included  600 N95 face masks, 150 PPE, 60 face shields and 60 sanitizers, 70 gloves, 60 disposable bedsheets, and medical-grade cleaning detergents.

The Tamale Teaching Hospital also received 100 N95 face masks, 30 PPE, 60 face shields and 60 sanitizers, 70 gloves, and 60 disposable bedsheets.

ATC Ghana also donated 300 N95 face masks, 70 PPE, 10 face shields and 10 sanitizers, 20 gloves, 10 disposable bed sheets, and medical-grade cleaning detergents to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

The company through similar efforts provided 600 N95 face masks, 200 PPE, 100 face shields and 100 sanitizers, 120 gloves, 100 disposable bed sheets, and medical-grade cleaning detergents to the Ga East Municipal Hospital.

To support COVID-19 education and public awareness across Ghana, ATC donated 150 sanitizers, 500 local face masks, 10 Veronica buckets, 100 hand tissues, and 100 gallons of liquid hand-washing soap to the National Commission for Civic Education.

In addition to the above donations, American Tower Foundation also donated USD$100,000.00 to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research to enable testing, research, and training of front-liners in the war against COVID-19.

As the pandemic continues and its social and economic effects are felt with greater intensity, ATC Ghana remains committed to working with all stakeholders to help navigate through this crisis.

ATC Ghana is the largest independent owner and operator of shared wireless infrastructure in Ghana. They provide towers, in-building systems, power solutions, and services that speed network deployment for the wireless and broadcast communications industry.

 

Visit https://lnkd.in/es85wbk to get more details on #AmChamMemberCOVID19Support

U.S. Chamber of Commerce International Policy Update

Chamber Leads Lawsuit Against Unprecedented Work Visas Restrictions

On July 21, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Retail Federation, and others sued to challenge federal restrictions on businesses’ ability to meet their workforce needs through lawful immigration. U.S. Chamber CEO Thomas J. Donohue released the following statement after the suit was filed:

“Our lawsuit seeks to overturn these sweeping and unlawful immigration restrictions that are an unequivocal ‘not welcome’ sign to the engineers, executives, IT experts, doctors, nurses, and other critical workers who help drive the American economy. Left in place, these restrictions will push investment abroad, inhibit economic growth, and reduce job creation.”
Donohue also penned an op-ed in The New York Times this week entitled “Why the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Is Suing the Trump Administration [Over Immigration].” In the column, Donohue wrote that the recent moves represent

“the most restrictionist immigration policies in nearly a century. This is a fundamental mistake at a time when our nation’s economy is already suffering.

“If you want businesses to grow and the economy to rebound, you allow skilled workers to come here legally to work and contribute to the well-being of our nation; you don’t lock them out. If you want the next revolutionary start-up to be founded in America, you welcome foreign students; you don’t threaten to upend their lives and send them home during the middle of a pandemic.”

For further information, please contact Executive Director for Immigration Policy Jon Baselice (jbaselice@uschamber.com).
New U.S. Chamber ‘Discover and Deliver’ Initiative Shows the All-of-Nation Effort to Defeat Coronavirus  

On July 21, the U.S. Chamber Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) launched its Discover and Deliver initiative to show what the nation’s brightest scientific minds and most innovative companies are doing to discover effective treatments and cures for COVID-19, outlined in an interactive map which depicts where COVID-19-related innovations are being developed in the United States.

The map reveals that there are currently 560 clinical trials of potential COVID-19 solutions in all 50 states, across 85 percent of congressional districts.

Discover and Deliver puts on full display the unprecedented scope and speed of what companies are actively doing to defeat COVID-19, and how policymakers can help accelerate the process by protecting intellectual property, removing trade barriers, like unnecessary tariffs and export bans, and encouraging strategic collaboration through public-private partnerships.

“When it comes to the fight against COVID-19, every community’s contribution counts,” said David Hirschmann, CEO of the U.S. Chamber GIPC. “This has to be, and is, an all-of-nation effort. In the United States alone, the size and scope of this effort is staggering. Our new interactive map we are launching today tells the story of that amazing scope in a visual, digestible way.”

The campaign kicked off with a virtual public event featuring leading voices from the business community, biopharma innovators, and those directing clinical trials in communities across the nation. The Discover and Deliver campaign will also sponsor a series of virtual events to help disseminate information and hold space for discussion at the local level.

The campaign’s next event will spotlight a local community’s efforts, inviting participants to consider a ”boots on the ground” view of progress underway.

“Today’s event was a good reminder that we’re all in this together, and we all have a part to play,” said Hirschmann. “If we all play our parts, we can help ensure that the innovative discoveries happening today can be delivered to people tomorrow.”

Each week the U.S. Chamber spotlights companies on the front-line search for effective treatments and vaccines to combat COVID-19, to access the entire catalog of articles, visit the U.S. Chamber Global Innovation Policy Center’s Discover & Deliver page.

 

Chamber Sends Association Letter Urging Updates to Privacy Shield

As we reported last week, the European Court of Justice ruled on July 16 in Data Protection Commissioner v Facebook Ireland, Maximillian Schrems (“Schrems II”) that the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield is no longer a valid mechanism for transferring personal data. The Court however upheld the validity of the Standard Contractual Clauses, which remain an important, privacy protective mechanism for transferring data.

In response, on July 17, the Chamber led an association letter, sent to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, urging the U.S. administration to work collaboratively with its EU counterparts to develop a stable and sustainable mechanism for companies to transfer data between the European Union and the United States. The letter highlights the importance of regulators to ensuring data transfers can continue while a new agreement is under discussion.

Signed by 30 associations, the letter in part reads:

“More than 5,300 U.S. companies use the Privacy Shield, and those businesses contribute significantly to the nearly $1.1 trillion in total U.S. trade in goods and services with the European Union. Companies in the automotive, retail, hospitality, logistics, health care, manufacturing and human resource management fields are all certified to the Privacy Shield Program. Small and medium sized businesses account for more than 70% of Privacy Shield participants.

“The effects of [last] Thursday’s decision reach far beyond the more than 5,300 Privacy Shield- certified companies. Indeed, Privacy Shield certified companies have suppliers of goods and services, comprising a network of tens of thousands of additional companies, all of which indirectly rely upon Privacy Shield. The decision also comes at a particularly precarious time for American businesses, as the COVID-19 pandemic has led many to use remote services and rely on the ability to move data across the globe.”

For further information, please contact Senior Vice President for International Regulatory Affairs Sean Heather (sheather@uschamber.com).

 

SFRC Republicans Introduce China Legislation

On July 22, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) and colleagues introduced the Strengthening Trade, Regional Alliances, Technology, Economic and Geopolitical Initiatives concerning China (STRATEGIC) Act. According to a press release, the objective of the legislation is “to advance a comprehensive strategy for U.S. competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC).” Key provisions include:

  • Tackle China’s economic practices that distort global markets and hurt U.S. businesses, especially IP theft and mass government subsidization and sponsorship of Chinese companies;
  • Confront tech competition by increasing technology collaboration with allies and partners;
  • Safeguard institutions from malign and undue PRC influence;
  • Strengthen U.S. posture in the Indo-Pacific to protect its interests, allies, and partners; and
  • Prioritize cooperation over conflict when possible on areas such as arms control, North Korea, and the environment, if the PRC demonstrates good faith and transparency.

To view a copy of the legislation, click here.

For a section by section summary, click here.

For further information, please contact China Center President Jeremie Waterman (jwaterman@uschamber.com).

 

Finance Committee to Hold Hearings on Medical Supplies, WTO

On Tuesday, July 28, at 10:15 a.m. the Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing entitled “Part 1: Protecting the Reliability of the U.S. Medical Supply Chain During the COVID-19 Pandemic”. Witnesses include:

Thomas F. Overacker
Cargo And Conveyance Security, Office Of Field Operations, United States Customs and Border ProtectionSteve K. Francis
Assistant Director, Homeland Security Investigations Global Trade Investigations Division, Director, National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center
United States Immigration, Customs, and EnforcementSoraya Correa
Chief Procurement Officer, United States Department of Homeland Security

For more information about the hearing, click here.On Wednesday July 29, at 10:15 a.m. the Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing entitled “WTO Reform: Making Global Rules Work For Global Challenges”. Witnesses include:

Jennifer Hillman
Senior Fellow For Trade And International Political Economy, Council on Foreign RelationsThomas R. Graham
Partner, Cassidy Levy KentLaura J. Lane
President, Global Public Affairs, UPS

Joseph Glauber, Ph.D
Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute

Michele Kuruc
Vice President, Ocean Policy, World Wildlife Fund

To watch the hearing, click here.For further information, please contact Senior Vice President of International Policy John Murphy (jmurphy@uschamber.com).

2020 AGOA Eligibility Review

Enacted in May 2000, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has served as the cornerstone of U.S. trade and investment policy for sub-Saharan Africa. Since then, the legislation has received several amendments, with the first extension scheduled for September 2015, after the initial eight years of implementation. However, given the success and bipartisan support of this preferential trade program, an additional ten years was granted to the program.

AGOA represents a shift from the traditional aid-based approach to the African continent to one that favors trade and commercial engagement. It builds on the existing Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program and allows Sub-Saharan African countries meeting a certain number of eligibility requirements — mainly focused on market-based economy principles, rule of law, and human rights — to have duty-free and quota-free access to the U.S. market for qualifying products. In return, the legislation provides an opportunity to forge new trade and investment partnerships with African countries, while allowing the U.S. to pursue its strategic and global security interests on the continent.

This statement examines AGOA’s performance, from inception to date, and provides some recommendations to help achieve its objectives and improve the next generation of the program, after the current expiration of September 30, 2025.

Kosmos Energy Donates Enhanced Testing Equipment Valued at $50,000 to the Ghana Health Service

Kosmos Energy Ghana has donated automated DNA/RNA extraction machine, RNA extraction test kits, and swab kits with transporters worth $50, 000 to the Ghana Health Service to help the Covid-19 fight.

Kosmos is confident that these items would complement the aggressive testing initiative of the Government of Ghana by enhancing the ability of GHS to deliver more rapid test results to support timely isolation and treatment of COVID-19 cases.

Kosmos is a full-cycle deepwater independent oil and gas exploration and production company focused on the Atlantic Margins. Our key assets include production offshore Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, as well as a world-class gas development offshore Mauritania and Senegal. We also maintain a sustainable exploration program balanced between proven, emerging, and frontier basins.

Procter and Gamble (P&G) Supports Government’s COVID-19 Fight with Face Masks

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, P&G has supported the efforts of the Ghanaian government to curtail the spread of COVID-19 with a donation of 11,100 personal protective equipment in the form of face masks. We understand that this donation of protective equipment will support health workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a cause we wholeheartedly support.

P&G has a long history of supporting our communities in times of need all around the world. Since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, P&G globally – through “P&G Protect Our Heroes” Mission – has stepped up its commitment to be a force for good and have been working with long-standing partner organizations like the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana (AmCham Ghana) to provide support to communities, relief agencies and people impacted by this challenging situation.

P&G as a company serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®.

The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. P&G has been operating in Sub-Saharan Africa for more than 25 years and in Ghana through our distributors for over 5 years contributing economically and socially.

Our purpose is to continue to touch and improve the lives of our consumers in Ghana with innovative brands. Some of our brands in Ghana include Pampers®, Always®, Ariel®, Oral B®, and Gillette®.

Miriam Badu representing P&G Ghana Trading Ltd commended the government on its effort in showing strong leadership during this period.

Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Provides 300 Residents In Ayawaso With Relief Packages

Before the novel COVID-19 virus hit the shores of Ghana, United Way Ghana was already collaborating with Standard Chartered Bank Ghana under our overarching program, Improving Basic Education (IBE). This partnership was initiated to improve the teaching and learning engagements of teachers and young learners while providing parents and caregivers the necessary tools to make them financially literate and self-reliant.

When the shutdown of schools made it impossible to go through with the IBE program, our collaboration with Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) evolved to support the vulnerable communities under our COVID-19 Response Initiative. Through our partnership with SCB, we will be supporting the parents and caregivers of the wards in the Kanda Cluster of schools by providing them with relief packages and engaging their young learners in a remote reading program for an entire month. These relief packages contain essential foodstuffs like rice, gari, beans, sugar, mackerel, soap, oil, and tin tomatoes and sanitary items for the household.

Soon after this agreement, SCB presented relief packages worth GHC85,000.00 for 300 households in Ruga, Kawukudi, and Maamobi with the promise of beginning remote literacy engagements in the coming weeks. Mr. Nimfah- Essuma, the Chief Financial Officer of Standard Chartered Ghana, commented during the presentation, “Having operated in Ghana for more than 120 years, we are committed to supporting our communities and the country at large during such dire times of need. Our immediate goal is to deliver relief measures to support the most vulnerable, and it is the reason we have partnered with United Way to address the needs of the most impacted. “We shall continue mobilizing our resources to support the most vulnerable,” he added.

Aside from having wards in Kanda Cluster of Schools, the beneficiaries receiving these packages are parents and caregivers who depend on the school feeding program to provide meals for their children.

To ensure the safety of all present we adopted the social distancing protocols recommended by the World Health Organization and the Ghana Ministry of Health. Before entering, beneficiaries had to wash their hands with soap and water. Then when called, enter into the building to show their coupon before receiving their package.  The look of relief on faces humbled all present. It was obvious that for most, this was God sent. “I am very thankful to have known Standard Chartered Bank and United Way Ghana, this package is going to make my family very happy today”, commented one man after receiving his package. A young learner sent by his mother said, “When my mother asked me to come, I was anxious because I did not know what to expect. Now I am happy I came, my little brothers and sisters will have good food to eat. You have really helped us”.

Most of the volunteers teared up after his comment, “I am lucky I get to do this, it has been a very humbling experience for me. I am not going to forget this anytime soon. I appreciate my parents providing for me and my siblings” commented Mary-Anne, a volunteer with United Way Ghana. In attendance at the distribution centers were volunteers and staff from United Way Ghana, Mother of All Nations, Muslim Family Counselling Services, and Achievers Ghana.

There were solemn moments during the distribution when it became apparent that these beneficiaries were receiving what they felt was a lifeline. Louisa Mensah, Resource Mobilization and Donor Retention Lead commented, “It has been a fulfilling experience, the gratitude the beneficiaries showered on us makes me believe that these packages will go a long way to provide sustenance for their families”.

With schools still suspended, the staff of Standard Chartered Bank will be engaging young learners of these beneficiaries through our remote reading program. We expect the young learners will be ready to be engaged and eager to learn.

With each engagement, our goal to support underserved communities under our COVID-19 Response Initiative becomes a reality. We have a long way to go in reaching our overarching goals but we continue to press on and know that each donation makes a difference in the lives of many people.

You can join us by going to https://unitedwaygh.org/united-way-ghana-COVID-19.php to find out more information,

AmCham Hosts The Maiden Money Series Featuring Standard Chartered Bank

The chamber hosted the maiden AmCham Money Series featuring Standard Chartered Bank Ghana, to discuss among other issues, the effects of coronavirus on the country’s economy, investing during and post COVID-19, and the $1 billion SC bank financing for companies.

The event was the first of series of webinars to be hosted by the chamber to provide critical information to help businesses mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

Speakers at the first AmCham Money Series included Jojo Bannerman, Head of Financial Markets Sales at SC Ghana Limited, Xorse Godzi, the Country Head for Commercial Banking at SC Ghana Limited, and Setor Quashigah, Head of Wealth Management at SC Ghana Limited.

Jojo Bannerman highlighted the country’s economic sectors that have been impacted by the pandemic. Though he cited the Fiscal Gap of GHS 11.4bn (2.9% of GDP) and the worsening of Fiscal Deficit from -4.7% to -6.6% (SCB Research -7.8%; IMF -6.4%), the disruptions in global supply chains and the shortfalls in petroleum receipts of GHS 5.679 bn (assume 30 $/bbl average price) as some of the negative impacts of the virus. He mentioned there were some gainers.

He said with the new trend of working from home, companies have had to acquire gadgets and data plans for employees. This has positively impacted the business of companies operating the Information & Communication sector, he said.

Other gainers include the food value-chain and retail sales, which picked in March 2020 due to panic buying that preseeded the partial lockdown.

Mr. Bannerman also said companies are adopting what is termed the new normal by shifting to telework (Work from home/ Flexi-Work schedules), education & online certification, and digital commerce and marketing (accelerate the use of digital payment solutions).

Xorse Godzi, the Country Head for Commercial Banking at SC Ghana Limited, shared the bank’s response to the pandemic in terms of relief. The Standard Chartered Bank Group made available at least USD 1 billion financing commitment at preferential rates to pharmaceuticals and medical supplies companies, healthcare providers such as hospitals and pharmacies, and non-medical companies that can support the fight against the virus.

Local clients of the bank can also access this fund, according to Xorse, over USD 10 million has been approved with additional potential opportunities of over USD 20 million.

In response to the President’s Address and Bank of Ghana interventions, the bank has reduced interest rates and offered repayment tenor extensions for relevant existing clients. They have also put a freeze on fees for relevant transactions within Retail Banking.

Standard Chartered Bank Ghana is also supporting vulnerable communities in Ghana to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

Head of Wealth Management at SC Ghana Limited, Setor Quashigah, talked about investing during and post COVID-19. She Shared tips on growing wealth and advised investors to know their risk profile, invest for the long term, and be disciplined; stay the cause. Mrs. Quashigah also said properties and family finances must be protected through insurance.

You need a plan to invest. According to Setor, you must assess your financial position to know your net worth, be mindful of your periodic obligations, invest only the part of the Net Liquid assets you do not need in the short term, use income investing strategies to fund your recurrent expenses, build a portfolio of short, medium and long term investments, and diversify.

Mrs. Quashigah also shared some exciting Standard Chartered Bank products, learn more here https://www.sc.com/gh/invest/

ABC Nigeria And AmCham Ghana Discuss AfCFTA Implementation Post Covid-19

The American Business Council, Nigeria, in collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, hosted a webinar to discuss AfCFTA Implementation Post Covid-19 with the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, Wamkele Mene.

AfCFTA provides the opportunity for Africa to create the world’s largest free trade area, with the potential to unite 1.3 billion people, in a $2.5 trillion economic bloc and usher in a new era of development.

The main objectives of the AfCFTA are to create a continental market for goods and services, with free movement of people and capital, and pave the way for creating a Customs Union.

Wamkele Mene briefly described the origin of the AfCFTA, which is essentially the product of the AU’s 2012 Boosting Intra -Africa Trade Action Plan which currently is at 18%.

He conceded that tariffs alone are not enough to encourage trade within Africa; this has to be done in conjunction with re-examining the economic structure of Africa; Leveraging on regional value chains; improving infrastructure, which currently at a deficit of about 100 billion U.S dollars and producing more goods or adding value to raw material.

With regard to the operationalization of the Secretariat and the agreement, Mene explained that the July 1st start date for trading has been put on hold until the pandemic is under control. 51 Countries have signed unto the Agreement and 28 Countries have so far ratified it as State parties.

Key Aspects of the Agreement Includes;

  • Increase and encourage the production of goods/services and the establishment of regional value chains to benefit all Countries on the Continent, create jobs and lift people out of poverty
  • Harmonization of customs processes and procedures on the Continent, to create a respected rule-based system for Countries to comply
  • Implement rules of origin
  • Implement a dispute settlement mechanism

Medium-Term Objectives of the Secretariat

  • Establishment of the Secretariat and staffed with the best and brightest Africans
  • World-class implementation of the Agreement
  • Credible dispute settlement mechanism for fair, impartial, transparent, and non-partisan of disputes to enhance investor confidence.
  • Establishment of value chains in two or three areas namely; automobile or agro-processing or the labour intensive value chains on the Continent
  • Encourage young Africans and Women in business and trade
  • Industrial Development Forum
  • Establishment of Fund for Investment in Value Chain

The long term goal of the secretariat is to increase intra-African trade from the current 18% to over 50% by 2030.

Wamkele Mene cautioned against willful lack of compliance with the rules by Member Countries as one of the challenges that may impede the development of AfCFTA. He further encouraged Countries to see the implementation of the Agreement as the economic relief required to derive economic growth after the coronavirus pandemic.