Report on AGM of GNBCC 

31-05-2024

Report on AGM of GNBCC 

Thursday, the 30th of May, GNBCC held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Villa Boutique Hotel, Osu, Accra. Shortly after 16 hrs, the AGM started by the public announcement of the AGM Notice and agenda by our Board Secretary Mrs Bernice Aikins, after that our Board Chair Mr Kofi Polley gave a welcome address capturing 2023 as a successful year concerning increased events and membership and gave a brief outlook for this year. The chairman quoted “ We have had a solid year . The outlook is positive. Although the conditions in Ghana are tough but we are financially healthy and well-positioned to continue to grow into the future. I look forward to the year ahead with confidence” .

Next was the approval of the accounts and for that, the presentation was taken over by Mr Geoffrey Maison, GNBCC’s Board Treasurer. After the obliged reading of the opinion of Morrison & Associates, GNBCC’s auditors,Mr Akwasi Dampson, GNBCC's Financial Manager gave a presentation about the positive  2023 results. This item always creates questions from our Member Audience – we had > 50 people present representing > 30  member companies and organisations – hence Mr Dampson answered them all to the satisfaction of our Membership. After approval of the accounts Morrison & Associates were confirmed as auditors of GNBCC. The next agenda point was the review of 2023; all Members had received the Management report of 2023 and separate on Q 1 of 2024 in which one could read about the membership numbers, the activities and GNBCC’s Private Sector Development project as well as the assignments we executed.

There were some questions about the meetings with the Presidential candidates on which Mr Wiarda, GNBCC’s GM answered. After that the AGM re-confirmed  by acclamation the existing Board Members Bernice Aikins, Geoffrey Maison and Dr Kweku Ainuson for another 2 years.  Subsequently GNBCC’s Chair took the floor and announced that Mrs Cecile Norgaard would leave the Board. He called her in front of the GNBCC Member audience and thanked her for her commitment this past year.

After this the GM took the microphone and explained to the Members that GNBCC started about 20 years ago as GHANECC. GHANECC was set up  after the successful celebration of  300 years of relations between Ghana and the Netherlands back in 2002. In April 2002 the then Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima visited Ghana and made an official visit to the Asantehene in Kumasi. The Dutch business community organized a business plan writing competition among final year students of secondary schools. The winner would get an University scholarship which was announced to her by Prince Willem Alexander during his visit. The enthusiasm displayed during this exercise made several companies decide to setup a Ghana Dutch Business Club and they became founding Members of GHANECC .

GHANECC was officially incorporated on the 8th of November 2004. 10 years later GHANECC became GNBCC after a brainstorm between the Dutch Embassy, the GHANECC Board and a number of prominent Members who then also became founding Members, but then of GNBCC.

GNBCC wanted to celebrate this group of founding Members plus the Embassy on this AGM. The GM invited African Tiger (formerly Wienco), CWT Commodities (formerly Sitos), Philips, Tex Styles (Vlisco), Vivo Energy (Shell), Dutch & Co, People’s Pension Trust (Porting XS) , Logistics Direct, KLM – Air France (formerly KLM) and the Royal Netherlands Embassy to come forward where they received from the GNBCC Board a plaque honouring their loyalty and support these past 10 to 20 years. A big thank you to our most loyal Members !!!

After this the Deputy Ambassador Mrs Wendy van Meel came forward and invited GNBCC’s GM Mr Tjalling Wiarda and GNBCC’s Board Chair Mr Kofi Polley to come forward where the Embassy handed to GNBCC  an honourful award  in recognition of the significant contribution and support to Dutch and Ghanaian business over the last 20 years.  After this great sign of valuation the Chair closed the AGM and gave the microphone to GNBCC’s Barnabas Apom.  Barnabas explained and propagated for the new GNBCC offshoot, namely the Horticulture Business Platform and wheeled in a big celebration cake . He announced that all members were invited to have a piece of the GNBCC cake. The evening was closed  with drinks and snacks.

Click here for pictures from the AGM.

 

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