Accra has earned a seat at the table of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) board of directors as the only representative from Africa.

Delegates from around the world elected World Trade Centre Accra (WTC-Accra) Chairman Togbe Afede XIV to their international board, as one of the 23-member board.

With a voter turnout of 70% of the 331-member cities organization: “The election results affirm that Accra is a world-class city in the eyes of international business community who value our vision on how we can grow local business through international trade,” said Emmanuel Doni-Kwame, Managing Director of WTC-Accra.

“We only got certified last year and business leaders in Ghana and Togbe Afede XIV have already proven that we have a lot to offer the international business community.

“Since WTC Accra started full operation in 2011, we’ve been successful in providing premium office space through our partnership with SSNIT and promoted trade and investment through our outbound trade missions to Brazil, Italy and Qatar. This news confirms that the world has noticed.”

The elections results were announced during the WTCA General Assembly in Manila, Philippines. Up to 300 delegates from Anchorage to Beijing, from Mumbai to Sao Paulo, from Washington to Zurich and beyond were eligible to vote in the election.

They represent some of the world’s finest business leaders, CEOs, property developers, economists, trade experts, and policy makers working to boost global trade and cooperation.

Togbe Afede XIV is the board chairman of the National Investment Bank, Accra Hearts of Oak and Africa World Airlines.

“It is exciting to become part of the WTCA board, which I believe will help position Accra and Ghana as a key investment and trade destination,” Togbe said from Manila.

“I believe that the WTC network’s greatest strengths are not only what happens within the walls of each WTC, but also in the relationships and connections WTC staff create as we bring the world to the doorsteps of Winnipeg businesses one connection at a time.”

WTC Accra is a member of the World Trade Centers Association, the leading international trade network, representing more than 300 World Trade Centres in nearly 100 countries. WTC Accra provides trade services and office space to both local and international companies looking to grow their business and interested in doing business with Ghana and Africa.