AmCham, UKGCC host jazz event to deepen business ties, support healthcare

The American Chamber of Commerce Ghana (AmCham) has highlighted strong business optimism among its members while acknowledging ongoing regulatory and operational challenges, as it partnered the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC) to host a jazz-themed networking event in Accra.

Chief Executive Officer of AmCham Ghana, Doris Kafui Afanyedey, said the event formed part of efforts to strengthen collaboration among member companies while celebrating the chamber’s steady growth.

According to her, AmCham Ghana recorded a successful first quarter, admitting 15 new member companies, which were officially welcomed and presented with certificates during the event.

She noted that, broadly, member companies remain optimistic about Ghana’s economic outlook, pointing to relative currency stability over the past two years as a key improvement.

“By and large, our members are doing well. Some are looking to expand, while others are considering entering the Ghanaian market,” she said.

However, she acknowledged persistent concerns around power supply and regulatory bottlenecks, particularly in areas such as taxation and compliance. She explained that AmCham continues to engage relevant state institutions to address these issues, including the Ghana Revenue Authority, Food and Drugs Authority and Ghana Standards Authority.

A key concern among members, she indicated, is the need for more responsive engagement channels within regulatory bodies to help businesses resolve issues without facing immediate penalties or disruptions.

“Companies want to comply with the law, but they also want the opportunity to engage and resolve issues where necessary,” she stated.

Beyond the domestic market, AmCham Ghana is also facilitating international investment opportunities. Ms. Afanyedey revealed that a delegation of Ghanaian companies will participate in the SelectUSA Investment Summit, which promotes foreign direct investment into the United States.

She added that a stronger domestic economy would better position Ghanaian firms to take advantage of such global opportunities.

The AmCham CEO further stressed that the event was not only about business networking but also about social impact. She noted that UKGCC is leading efforts to support the Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital with the provision of incubators to enhance neonatal care.

Following AmCham’s remarks, the Executive Director for UKGCC, Adjoba Kyiamah, underscored the role of the event in fostering connections through culture and shared experiences.

She explained that jazz was deliberately chosen as a unifying theme for the first joint event of the year, creating a relaxed environment for businesses to network and explore partnerships.

“Jazz is something that brings people together, so we thought that for a first event this year, we would host a live jazz band, network and do business,” Ms. Kyiamah said.

On economic developments, she noted some stagnation between the first and second quarters of the year but indicated that power supply challenges have had limited impact on many firms, as businesses increasingly rely on backup systems or renewable energy sources.

Instead, the Executive Director highlighted concerns around trade facilitation, particularly delays in clearing imported goods, which often lead to high demurrage costs for businesses.

To tackle this, Ms. Kyiamah indicated that UKGCC has intensified engagement with the Ghana Revenue Authority, including hosting discussions on domestic tax revenue reforms to address member concerns.

“We’ve opened channels of communication and are hopeful that these issues will be addressed,” she noted.

Concluding, Ms. Kyiamah also highlighted its ongoing corporate social responsibility initiative, noting that it is mobilising support for the Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital, with a focus on procuring incubators to improve neonatal care and support vulnerable infants.