Commercial real estate is booming in Ghana as its economy expands through national and global commercial real estate investments. A delegation of Ghana Parliamentary leaders met with the CCIM Institute, Aug. 5–7, to learn more about the U.S. licensure requirements and CCIM education for commercial real estate professionals. The legislators plan to introduce new laws for licensure and offer commercial real estate education to expand the knowledge and differentiation in Ghana’s commercial real estate marketplace.
“We need to regulate the commercial real estate industry in Ghana, which is an emerging market, and provide commercial real estate professionals with the best possible education,” says Hon. Alhaji Amadu Seidu, chairman of Lands and Forestry Committee in the Ghana Parliament. “We want to learn the international best practices for our young economy and young commercial real estate market and welcome a partnership with the CCIM Institute to contribute to our vibrant economy.”
Ghana legislators became interested in the CCIM Institute education after the CCIM online course “Foundations for Success in Commercial Real Estate” was successfully delivered to 28 students in June. As a result of the favorable response, CCIM will present the online “Foundations for Success” course again in mid-September. Plans are underway to offer the new blended learning version of CCIM Institute 101 core course on financial analysis in Ghana late in 2015 or early in 2016.
“The CI 101 course will serve as a bridge between the United States and Ghana,” says Vicky Sampah, MBA, MSRE, managing broker at L’ABRI Realty in Aurora, Ill., who sponsored the CCIM pilot course in June. “Legislation in Ghana combined with CCIM education will work together synergistically to build a good system for commercial real estate.”
Two members of the Ghanaian Parliamentary delegation plan to participate in the second presentation of the online CCIM “Foundations for Success” course. “Financial analysis in commercial real estate is new to me, and I want to learn about it,” says Hon. Emmanuel Bedzrah, member of the Works and Housing Committee for the Ghana Parliament. “CCIM instructors will share their experience and knowledge with our commercial real estate practitioners to develop professional practices and standards in our country.”
The ranking member of the Lands and Forestry Committee in the Ghana Parliament, Hon. Owusu-Bio Benito adds, “We want to help our professionals in commercial real estate learn from the CCIM Institute.”
On the west coast of Africa, Ghana, a nation of 27 million people with a strong cultural heritage, has plentiful resources, a stable government, and a rapidly growing economy. More than 100 U.S. corporations are setting up headquarters in Accra, Ghana, to serve the rest of the sub-region. These corporations include General Electric, Caterpillar, Citibank, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Meltwater Group.
