Breakfast Meeting with the University at Buffalo School of Management on AI in Business

Earlier today, Doris Afanyedey, Chief Executive Officer of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ghana (AmCham Ghana), hosted a breakfast meeting with Professor Ananth Iyer, Dean of the University at Buffalo School of Management, and Dr. Dorothy Siaw-Asamoah, Clinical Associate Professor and Faculty Director of Global Programs. The session convened AmCham Ghana members within the technology and fintech sectors, including Jason Hickey, Senior Research Scientist at Google, alongside representatives from General Electric, Global Media Alliance, eServices Africa, Yellow Card, and Oracle, for a high-level dialogue on the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in driving innovation, operational efficiency, and policy advancement.

Professor Iyer delivered a compelling presentation on the practical integration of AI across industries, anchored on a four-step framework — Extract, Integrate, Analyze, and Innovate. He demonstrated how open-source AI tools can synthesize vast datasets, reports, and multimedia content into actionable insights, streamlining research and decision-making processes. Drawing from real-world applications, he illustrated how AI can optimize productivity in sectors such as agriculture and supply chain management, referencing Ghana’s cocoa value chain and the U.S. government–funded Supply Chain Activation Network, which leverages AI to enhance collaboration between manufacturers and suppliers.

A key highlight of the engagement came from Google’s Senior Research Scientist, Jason Hickey, who announced that all students across Africa will receive free access to Google’s AI Pro platform. This initiative aims to democratize access to advanced AI resources, promote digital literacy, and empower Africa’s next generation of innovators with the skills and tools required to thrive in the evolving digital economy. The announcement was met with enthusiastic commendation from participants, who recognized its potential to accelerate Africa’s participation in global technological advancement.

In her closing remarks, Ms. Afanyedey reaffirmed AmCham Ghana’s commitment to fostering strategic partnerships between academia, industry, and government to advance AI adoption, ethical governance, and capacity development. She emphasized that AmCham will continue to serve as a platform for dialogue and collaboration that enables businesses to harness emerging technologies for sustainable growth. The session concluded with a networking breakfast, generously sponsored by AmCham member KFC Ghana, providing participants with an opportunity to further engage and exchange ideas on collaborative pathways toward a digitally empowered future.

AmCham Ghana And The University At Buffalo School Of Management To Collaborate On Research And Development

The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana, on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, had an engagement with the Faculty Director, Global Programs, and Director of the Center for Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness at the University at Buffalo School of Management (UB), Dorothy Siaw-Asamoah, Ph.D., at the secretariate.

Professor Siaw-Asamoah, accompanied by a delegation of students who are part of their Annual Ghana Trip, met with Simon Madjie, the Executive Secretary of the Chamber, to discuss potential collaboration between the University and the Chamber’s AfCFTA Resource Center. This discourse focused on research projects related to the new continental trade agreement aimed at providing American companies with valuable information and guidance to leverage the AfCFTA and invest in the African continent.

There were also discussions on highlighting the positive impact of American companies on the Ghanaian economy while simultaneously working to correct misconceptions regarding local agricultural practices, thereby facilitating an environment for increased American investment in Ghana.

The Chamber has always hosted visiting students and faculty from the University at Buffalo, and in the interest of advancing education and strengthening technological cooperation between Ghana and the United States, the two organizations seek to further strengthen this partnership to enhance the existing relationship, recognizing the mutual benefits that will be derived from this cooperation.

Also present at the meeting was AmCham Ghana Manager for Membership, External Relations and Project, Jane Okyere-Aduachie.

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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.

AmCham promotes commercial, economic, educational, and cultural ties between the United States of America and the Republic of Ghana.

 

About the University at Buffalo

The University at Buffalo School of Management is to discover and deepen our understanding of management concepts and applications that drive effective organizations and use them to produce principled and insightful leaders who create positive change in the world.