The Chamber of Commerce and Industry France Ghana (CCIFG) organized its Annual Gala Night and Award Ceremony in partnership with the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel.

With the host of the night being French magician extraordinaire, Stefan Leyshon, the event was held under the privilege of the wife of the Vice President, Samira Bawumia, and France Ambassador to Ghana, Anne Sophie Ave.

The CCIFG Annual Gala Night is held with the objective of providing a unique platform for élite high-level exchanges between delegates from various sectors in the Ghanaian Industry, members of the Chamber and the diplomatic scene.

The 2019 edition, attended by about 350 guests, gave a stage to accessing business opportunity resulting in an increase in business collaboration.

The event also was a window for the encouragement of stakeholder involvement as well as to demonstrate the commitment of cooperation between France and Ghana.

The President of the CCIFG, Celestino Alvarez-Neira, in his welcome address to guests at the Gala was elated to announce that the 3rd Annual Gala falls in line with the 5th-anniversary celebrations of the CCIFG which is being celebrated with the theme “celebrating 5 years of a bonding partnership”.

Sharing the progress of the Chamber thus far, he said “within 5-years of existing in Ghana, we have supported hundreds of French companies prospecting the Ghanaian market and others willing to invest in Ghana. We have facilitated the implantation of successful business today in Ghana, including Decathlon Ghana and Alfa Laval”.

He continued to give insight on the ongoing business activity in 2019 mentioning that the CCIFG was set to collaborate with “Club d’enterprise Bordeaux Afrique” to host a collective mission of French businesses to Ghana. He also announced to guests the partnership with CCI France Morocco to organise for the 3rd time, one of the largest collective trade missions to Ghana.

He concluded saying 2019 will be a year where the Chamber will take advantage of the lucrative nature of the economy, and fulfil its mandate of supporting the bilateral business development of French and Ghanaian companies.

Addressing guests at the Gala, Mrs. Bawumia said, “government is pursuing a development agenda that is based on industrial transformation, with a focus on export diversification and the creation of jobs”.

She went on to explain stating that “the current government is working assiduously to further improve the congenial business environment, which makes bilateral chambers of commerce as yours, an even more important partner for development in the facilitation of the much needed Foreign Direct Investment”.

Supporting her speech, Anne Sophie Ave commended the CCIFG on its activities within 5-years of facilitating business development in Ghana.

She mentioned that the Embassy of France in Ghana will collaborate with the Chamber all year-long to continue to extend business to Ghana through its Ghana Day Road tour which has seen successful results since its implementation two years ago.

The evening was also the occasion to host the Annual CCIFG Business Awards. The award ceremony is a chance to recognise companies across industries for outstanding business activity in Ghana throughout the past year, that has made an impact through its products and services for the Ghanaian economy.

Four companies were awarded in four different categories following the submission of nominations and voting. The categories and winners are:

• Best Product or Service of 2018 – Nexans Kabelmetal Ltd

• Best Digital Project – Ecobank Ghana Ltd

• Best CSR & Sustainability Company – Kasapreko Company Ltd

• Company of the Year – CBI Ghana Ltd.

The members of the Jury for the 2019 CCIFG Business Awards are:

• Celestino Alvarez-Neira - CCIFG President and Chairman of the European Business Organisation

• Delphine Adenot-Owusu - Managing Director, CCIFG

• Edith Dankwa - CEO, Business and Financial Times Limited

• Gwénolé Jan - Head of Economic Services, Embassy of France in Ghana

• Lucy Quist - CEO, Quist Blue Diamond

The Annual CCIFG Gala and Award Ceremony is a demonstration of the growth in the bilateral relationship between Ghana and the France.