As we come to the end of 2024, we can reflect on a year in which our chamber, the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC) has grown and taken advantage of a relieved post-Covid era.  With a change of government in Britain, a fresh enthusiasm to do business between our two countries is clearly evident.  This can only bode well for the UKGCC in 2025.

We cannot say farewell to 2024 without reporting to you that active membership has grown by about 20% this year.  To our new member businesses: Neon Acres Limited, OAK Agility Limited, Nii Plants and Car Rentals, GCB Capital Limited, Harlequin International Ghana Limited, Ghana International Bank Plc, The Royal Senchi Hotel & Resort, Deloitte Ghana, Rentokil Initial Ghana, Smart Organic Solutions, Vibe Consult Ghana, AudioVisual Systems, and SLL Journeys – welcome to the UKGCC once again.  We will not relent in our efforts to provide the support you need to expand your business.

New members joined the UKGCC’s Executive Council this year as well.  I welcome again, Chris Wulff-Caesar, Managing Director, Unilever Ghana PLC;
Kevin Dadzie, Regional Manager & Head of Country, BP Ghana; and William Hunt,

Country Manager, Demeter Ghana Ltd. We look forward to years of support for the UKGCC and our member companies in our various capacities.  I also use this opportunity to thank Benedict Rich, Managing Director of Golden Exotics Ghana Limited and former member of our Executive Council for his excellent service and support to the UKGCC.   I would also like to thank Steven Gray (OBE), UK Export Finance Representative for West Africa, who left the Executive Council but continues to serve the UKGCC as a member of our UK-based Advisory Board.  Steve’s dedication to the UKGCC, from inception is undeniable and greatly appreciated.

This year, the UKGCC carried out networking events which proved popular and supportive to our membership and the community, demonstrated with our donation of GHȼ100,000 from the proceeds of our Hat and Flower Show to the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation.  it is heartwarming to know that our token contribution will go to support their initiatives, particularly, the refurbishment of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the Otumfuo’s Education Fund.

We also continued to advocate on behalf of our member businesses with the release of our 2023 Business Environment & Competitiveness Survey, Member CEOs Breakfast Meetings, outbound trade missions to the UK, and numerous yet highly impactful webinars, seminars, capacity-building initiatives, and stakeholder engagements.

It was a triumphant year not least because the UKGCC strengthened its contacts and relationships with key actors in the economy, civil society, and with government.  These developments enabled us to offer the quality service which won us the British Chambers of Commerce prestigious award of International Chamber of the Year 2023.

Such achievements do not come by chance.  Our CEO, Adjoba Kyiamah, supported by a small, efficient, and competent team, has tirelessly worked to position the UKGCC at the top of the league.  We are grateful to her and her team, and we are excited about the prospects for 2025 when we plan more events and membership supporting activities.  Such activity will be designed to take advantage of an economic buzz in the air from changes of government all over the world and a sense that business in West Africa, and especially Ghana, is about to be rekindled.

It remains for me to wish you all, on behalf of the UKGCC and its Executive Council, a Happy Christmas and a significantly prosperous New Year. 

Best wishes

Anthony