Interview: Rahul Dhir Which factors contribute to Ghana’s attractiveness for investment in oil and gas, and how have global developments impacted this space? RAHUL DHIR: There are a number of factors that make Ghana attractive, including political stability, an educated pool of human resources, high-quality oil, and a location that is advantageous for exporting to Europe and the US. The general…
Interview: Douglas Macquarrie What challenges does the Ghanaian mining sector face when it comes to encouraging development and attracting investment? DOUGLAS MACQUARRIE: Mining is an important contributor to Ghana’s GDP and accounts for the largest portion of the country’s exports by value, at nearly 50%. As such, continuing to strengthen the sector will create jobs and have wider economic benefits.…
Interview:Ramesh Sadhwani To what extent has the global supply chain disruption impacted retailers in Ghana, and how is the industry adapting to this? RAMESH SADHWANI: Like everywhere else in the world, supply chain disruptions have been challenging. We have all been affected by them, although some more than others. Thanks to planning ahead over several months, Melcom has been affected to a…
Interview:Hayssam Fakhry What are your expectations for the industrial sector during Ghana’s post-pandemic recovery phase? HAYSSAM FAKHRY: While the Covid-19 pandemic has certainly been negative in terms of human health, there were some positive outcomes from the business perspective. The onset of the crisis was a wake-up call for Ghana, as it highlighted the lack of local product variety.…
Interview:Selorm Adadevoh To what extent has the Covid-19 pandemic affected Ghana’s telecoms sector? SELORM ADADEVOH: The Covid-19 pandemic forced telecoms providers to fundamentally change the way we operate to minimise the adverse impact on both our consumers and our employees. Personal protective equipment was provided at customer interaction points, namely physical stores throughout the…
Interview:Joseph Aidoo How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected various segments of the real estate industry? JOSEPH AIDOO: We initially saw property sales slow due to the uncertainty that the pandemic brought to people’s lives. Job security was not guaranteed and many couples were no longer sure that it was the right time to start a family, which translated to fewer residential sales. As the…
Interview:Kiran Daswani In what ways do you expect housing demand to shift as Ghana’s economy moves into an economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic? KIRAN DASWANI: Historically, an economic recovery leads to a higher demand for housing. This upturn in the economy leads to an increase in property prices, as well as more disposable income in the hands of business owners and salaried workers…
Interview:Miishe Addy What effect did the Covid-19 pandemic have on trade in Africa, and what trends have emerged since the early months of the health crisis? MIISHE ADDY: During the early months of the pandemic there was a spike in the sale of personal hygiene products and personal protective equipment. Even so, there was a decline in containerised trade volume in 2020. For players in logistics,…
Interview:Akwasi Agyeman How has the Covid-19 pandemic impacted Ghana’s tourism sector, and what do you see will be necessary to support recovery? AKWASI AGYEMAN: Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic Ghana was focused on developing heritage and diaspora tourism and attracting tourists from the US in particular, while also taking steps to promote domestic tourism. International visitor numbers trended…
Interview:Delese Mimi Darko What was the role of the FDA in the approval process for Covid-19 vaccines? DELESE MIMI DARKO: The FDA, as a regulatory agency, is responsible for ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of all food, drugs and medical products available in Ghana, including vaccines. During emergency situations like the Covid-19 pandemic, national medicines regulatory agencies have…
