AmCham Ghana/U.S. Embassy Train Entrepreneurs On How To Launch A Successful International Franchise Business

AmCham Ghana, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, held a two-day franchise training for about 50 Ghanaian businesses and entrepreneurs in Accra. The maiden franchise training event on How to Launch a Successful International Franchise Business was to equip participants with expertise on engaging with U.S. franchisors.

The two-day event saw remarks from the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Accra, Nicole Chulick, and Chairman of the AmCham Ghana Franchising Committee/Executive Director of Mohinani Group, Ashok Mohinani. The training also featured lectures from industry experts, including Kay Ainsley, Managing Director at MSA Worldwide, and Eric Johnson, Global Franchising Team Lead at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Franchising allows local companies to work closely with U.S. partners with extensive marketing, logistics, and financing expertise. The training also hosted a panel of industry practitioners from PwC, Cal Bank, Ecobank, Fareast Mercantile, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Kimathi & Partners, Ministry of Trade, Quality Insurance, Orkin Pest Control, and the Ghana Registrar General’s Office for discussions on Intellectual Property Rights; Local Legal, Tax, and Policy Considerations; Local Business Development and Financing for Franchises; and Running a Successful Franchise. 

Participants were presented with a certificate of participation by the Executive Secretary of AmCham Ghana, Simon Madjie, after their two-day intensive training from leading U.S. industry trainers and international and local experts about franchising contracts, how to build a strong franchising business, sources of revenue for each partner, local tax and legal issues, how to secure financing, and protect intellectual property rights, among other topics.

 

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.

AmCham U.S. – Ghana Franchising Roundtable

The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, on December 6, 2021, hosted  Cynthia Griffin, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs for Sub-Saharan Africa in Accra, for a roundtable discussion on building a sustainable and profitable franchise ecosystem in Ghana.

The roundtable held under the theme, Creating a Profitable Franchise Market in Ghana, had in attendance Dean Matlack, Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S Embassy in Ghana, and selected franchisees including UPS, Burger King, U.S. Tampico, Pizza Hut, Harley Davidson, MAC Cosmetics, and Pinkberry. Also present at the meeting were AmCham Ghana Executive Secretary, Simon Madjie, Jane Okyere-Aduachie, AmCham Ghana Membership, External Relations and Project Manager, representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, as well as a representative from the law firm, Kimathi, and Partners.

In 2020, there were an estimated 753,770 franchise establishments in the United States with an economic output of 670 billion U.S. dollars, employing about 7.49 million people.

Dean Matlack, Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S Embassy in Ghana, during his remarks said he believes Ghana is well-positioned to grow its franchise industry and indicated that it is a priority for his office. He also added that franchising has a lot of potential in promoting bilateral trade between the United States and Ghana.

The guest speaker for the event, Cynthia Griffin, noted the importance of understanding the new franchising schemes and stressed the need to create an enabling business environment to help new and existing franchises grow. ”We need a proper business environment to develop a franchise industry.”

The meeting also featured discussions on some challenges faced by franchisees, such as supply chain integration and the cost of importing equipment and other inputs. Attendees noted the importance of creating auxiliary industries to manufacture machinery and services to help cut the cost of doing business.

The franchise roundtable also doubled as the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Franchise Committee. An AmCham Ghana initiative in collaboration with the U.S. Commercial Service in Ghana aimed at creating a platform where franchisees and other professionals dialogue on pressing issues, share ideas, and advocate for a favorable business environment.