Thursday, October 20, 2011

GNCCI celebrates 250 years of private sector advocacy

Exactly 250 years have turned since the establishment of a national chamber of commerce to spearhead the course of industries in the country’s private sector and towards the development of a vibrant economy. Ekow Essabra-Mensah writes.

The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce & Industry is without doubt, one of the leading business support service in the country, an independent organisation serving and promoting the commercial and industrial interest of small and large companies.

The chamber in its present form was established on the 8 th November 1961 under an Act of Parliament (Executive Instrument No. 196) following the amalgamation of the then four existing Chambers of Commerce.

These were the Accra and Eastern Province Chambers of Commerce, Kumasi Chamber of Commerce, Sekondi/Takoradi Chamber of Commerce that grouped expatriate firms and the Ghana Chamber of Commerce, which represented indigenous Ghanaian firms. The chamber serves the local business community with three core activities that are its founding principles.


The Chamber as part of its mandate is dedicated to helping entrepreneurial growth of companies and seek to promote the interest of companies and organisations engaged in investment, trade, commerce, agriculture, industry and manufacturing sectors.

The Chamber is also committed to playing a leadership role in the promotion of the healthy growth of the country’s economy, establishing a strong international linkage and projecting a good image for Ghana.

Mr. Emmanuel Doni- Kwame, acting Chief Executive Officer, of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and industry in an interview with B&FT said: “The Chamber is in a unique position to act as a link between established businesses, the emerging sector, and government at the various levels.

“The Chamber is recognized locally and internationally as an impartial third party with a history of promoting the interest of businesses.”

The Chamber currently has a membership of over 2000 spanning across various sectors. Membership is offered to all registered business establishments in Ghana.

HISTORY OF THE GHANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PRE- INDEPENDENCE

The Chamber Of Commerce is arguably one of the oldest institutions in Ghana with its establishment dating back to 8th November 1761 by the Danes.

In 1754, the Danish Gold coast became Danish Crown Colony and the Danish West Indian and Guinean Company was granted a royal charter to take over the administration of the gold coast.

In 1760, the West Indian-Guinean Chamber of Revenues was established. In 1776, the Danish West Indian and Guinean Company was dissolved. In 1781-1782, a West Indian trade company and Baltic-Guinean trade company were founded respectively.

Late in the 18th century, Ernest Schwmmelmann, Danish minister of finance(1784-1813), suggested that Denmark should introduce a plantation economy in its African colonies. In 1816, the West Indian-Guinean Chamber of revenues was merged with the college of commerce to form the General Customs Chamber and College of Commerce.

However neither the plantation economy nor trade in other goods flourished as hoped. The traditional trading partners, the coastal Fanti states were subjugated by the Ashantis by 1807.

The Danish trading posts were finally abandoned. In 1850, Denmark sold its property and claims on the Gold Coast to Great Britain. The Cape Coast Chamber was later formed out of the Customs Chamber and College of Commerce.

In 1894 a deputation from the Cape Coast Chamber of Commerce many of whose members held links to merchants in Great Britain put pressure on the governor to appoint a permanent resident. There was considerable feeling in the colony in support of this move.

The new Asantehene AgyemanPrempeh I declined this request as well as others, but pressure was building for his kingdom to be brought under British control to prevent the French from doing so.

Another travelling commissioner Hendrick Vroom was sent to Kumasi to ask the Asantes to accept a British officer as their friend and advisor.

Eventually the Asantes sought to bypass the authority of the British governor by sending an eight person deputation to London to plead for their state’s independence, but it was neither recognized nor received. They were simply told to deal directly with the Governor of the then Gold Coast. We are proud to say that three of our members and others were mandated by the Governor to draft the 1951 constitution.

POST INDEPENDENCE

The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and industry will this year celebrate the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the first chamber of commerce in the then Gold Coast and 50 years of the enactment of the legal instrument merging all Chambers of commerce in independent Ghana into one Ghana National Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to 1961, there were four separate and independent Chambers of Commerce in Ghana, namely: The Accra and Eastern province Chamber of Commerce, The Kumasi Chamber of Commerce, The Sekondi/Takoradi Chamber of Commerce, The Ghana Chamber of Commerce.

The first three Chambers mentioned above were composed of expatriate firms and businesses based in the three main trading centers, while the fourth Chamber catered for the indigenous Ghanaian businesses.

The first president of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah did not fancy the duplicated representation smacking of racial discrimination. He rightly ordered the Chambers to merge.

The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce was then established on 8th November, 1961 under an Act of parliament (Executive Instrument No. 196) following the amalgamation of the then existing Chambers of Commerce, which were Nationality based.

The Executive Instrument was amended by legislative Instrument No.611 of 1968 to streamline some of the internal structures of the Chamber. The Chamber was charged with the following functions: Promotion and protection of trade, commerce, industries and manufacturers in Ghana
The collection and circulation of statistics relating to trade, commerce, industry and manufacturers of Ghana.

The provision of facilities for the communication and interchange of views between members of the Chamber on one hand and departments of Government, public institution and other associations on the other hand, on matters directly affecting the interests of the Chamber or any member thereof.

The printing and publication of newspapers, periodicals, books and other documents for promoting the interest of the Chamber.

The establishment and maintenance of libraries and museums for the promotion of trade, commerce, industry and manufacturers of Ghana. The promotion and participation in trade fairs in Ghana and elsewhere. To develop linkages with Chambers of Commerce on other parts of the world.

The promotion of and co-operation with associations or Chamber and other organizations in Ghana discharging similar functions as the Chamber. The grant of donations to local or national charities.

The chamber has since been an independent, non-political organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the interests of businesses in Ghana.

COLLABORATION WITH GOVERNMENT

COMMODITY EXCHANGE

The country being predominately agricultural country lacks a self-coordinating market system for the trade of agricultural produce. Farmers lack access to a well function market where they can get competitive price for their produce.

As a consequence, farmers face the problem of unstable prices for their produce leading to glut in one region or district and shortages in other regions. Lack of access to agriculture raw materials also affect agro-proceessing and other sectors.

The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce & Industry in collaboration with the Ghana Agricultural Producers and Traders Organisation, the Ghana National Cargo Transporters Association and with the support of BUSAC will undertake an advocacy action on the inclusion of the private sector in the establishment of a Commodity Exchange.

Agricultural markets in Ghana had been characterized by high costs and high risks of transacting, forcing much of our agric producer into isolation. With only a few of output reaching the market, commodity buyers and sellers tended to trade only with those they knew, to avoid the risk of being cheated or default.

Trade is done on the basis of visual inspection because there was no assurance of product quality or quantity, this drive up market costs, leading to high consumer prices.

The goal of this action is to partner with other stakeholders to develop a Commodity Exchange to connect buyers and sellers of locally grown agricultural commodities in an efficient, reliable and transparent manner by making use of innovation and technology.

1. To develop an integrated commodity marketing policy that addresses all the processes namely, transport, grading, storage and information facilities for the producer as well as the consumer

2. To develop a well equipped institutional establishment which can provide all marketing services to all market actors;

3. To develop a private and public-partnership in the creation of the commodity market.
The Chamber will undertake a study tour of Ethiopia and develop a position paper. A sensitization workshop will be organized to allow beneficiaries of the action mainly members to contribute to the position paper presented.

A series of media activities will be carried out via TV, Radio and print media to inform and educate the public. Stakeholder workshops’ policy dialogue will be used to ensure a consensus is reached and objective of action achieved. Finally negotiation and follow up on target groups

This project will contribute towards strengthening the culture of doing business by creating a transparent, innovative and efficient marketing system for buyers and sellers especially small-scale farmers who are at the mercy of merchants in the nearest and only market they know, to negotiate better prices or reduce their market risk.

Customer Service Celebration

The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, collaborated with organizers to promote customer service in the country.

The Chamber recognizes the role of the customer in business development and sustainability and that as a as a leading voice of the business community in the country endorsed celebrations, as it is in the best interest of the business community , encouraging all its members to partner or participate and ensure appropriate customer service .

Business Support services

The Chamber offers its Members a vast number of business support services that range from the local services such as start-up support, contracts and tender information, training, translation support, export market information and documentation.

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