The 2020 AGI Accra Regional Annual General Meeting

The Greater Accra Regional chapter of AGI organized their Annual General Meeting on the theme
“Financing options for the private sector post Covid” at the Coconut Grove and Regency Hotel on
Thursday, 22 nd October, 2020. In attendance were a cross-section of Accra AGI members. Some
participants also had the opportunity to join via zoom.

 

 

Addressing participants in his opening remarks, the Greater Accra regional chairman, Mr. Tsonam Cleanse
Akpeloo spoke on how the outbreak of corona virus has produced both winners and losers especially in the
business and industry sector. He said many business men and women have been challenged to break out
of their comfort zone to come up with ideas to keep their businesses running. He continued by encouraging
members to prepare to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade programme which is
scheduled to begin in January 2021.
Also in attendance as guest panelists were, Mr. Seth Twum-Akwaboah C.E.O AGI and Mr. Humphrey
Ayim-Darke the national Vice President of AGI. Both had the opportunity to speak to the audience. They
appreciated the zeal with which the Accra chapter of the AGI is kept active amidst the outbreak of the
pandemic. Members were challenged to explore other non-traditional options of financing their businesses
especially in the area of using raw materials as a bargaining tool for capital formation. Also, members were
assured of the association’s continuous dedication of making sure they mattered in the policies of the two
major political parties as they have been in talks with some party leaders.
The mayor of Greater Accra, Hon. Mohammed Adjei Sowah also graced the occasion. In his keynote
address he stated that he is aware of how businesses in the capital and their local assemblies go through a
lot of ups and downs to ensure smooth transactions. He said it is very necessary that the activities of the
local assemblies must be well explained to business men and women to prevent the unending
misunderstanding that continue to exist between them. The mayor also addressed some questions and
concerns raised by members.
Mrs. Audrey Abakah, Head of SME banking, ABSA also gave a presentation on available SME financing
products of the bank.
The last speaker of the day, Madam Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, CEO of the National Board of Small Scale Industry
spoke on the various government low-cost funding interventions to support industries especially in this time
of a global pandemic that has caused economic challenges around the world. Madam Kosi raised concerns

on how most SMEs in the country are unbanked and the major problem of poor data compilation and book-
keeping of most associations in the country. With respect to the recent disbursement of the CAP BuSS loan
bearing the phrase “Anidasuo”, Mrs. Yankey-Ayeh told participants why some businesses had still not
received their share. She went on to congratulate the diligence with which the Association of Ghana
Industry kept proper data of members and helped members apply for the package.
The event ended with the business section where the report and minutes of the previous year’s AGM was
read and accepted by all.
SOURCE: LILIAN MENSAH