“Peaceful, democratic, gateway to Africa, great economic outlook…” are some of the few attributes that is used to describe or sell Ghana to potential investors overseas. If you’re looking for professional opportunities in West Africa, you might want to check the biggest international companies in Ghana.

These words may have to an extent influenced the decision of many investors and corporations to do business in Ghana. The existence of some particular International Agencies in Ghana may help make business decisions as well as help a potential investor make assessments on the business climate in Ghana.

As a major business hub in West Africa, Ghana is home to many International Chamber of Commerce offices that play an essential role in the country’s economic develoment.

Read on to see some of the International companies in Ghana.

International Companies in Ghana

1. Olam

Operating in 70 countries, Olam has carved a niche for itself worldwide. As a food and agribusiness company in the world, Olam International operates from seed to shelf, supplying industrial raw materials as well as food to over 23,000 customers worldwide, and is one of the world’s largest suppliers of cocoa beans and products, rice, cotton, coffee and many more.

The evolution of Olam from a single product, in a single country to a multi-product, multinational agribusiness has been phenomenal since its establishment in 1989. The Ghana chapter was established in 1994 some 5 years after the launch of the first company in Nigeria and has succeeded in the export of cocoa and cashew cultivated by 140,000 farmers.

In addition, Olam imports rice and other grains and have also invested in the production and processing of food products notably biscuits and tomato paste.

2. Unilever

Being Europe’s seventh most valuable did not come on a silver platter, as Unilever has worked so hard over 85 years to take that deserved spot. With the Headquarters in both London and Rotterdam, Unilever has extended its tentacles worldwide and has grown to become the giant that it is.

All around the world in around 190 countries, Unilever’s products which includes food and beverages, cleaning agents, beauty products and personal care products can be found.

The Ghana chapter was founded on 14th July 1992 and they are listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange and are really doing great. Unilever is behind some brands such as Lipton, Knorr, Dove and Hellmann.

3. KPMG

KPMG was formed by the merging and the business takeovers of many astute accounting and auditing firms. It is one of the big four accounting firms in the world and offers Professional services across 147 countries and engineered by over 219,000 employees.

In Ghana, KPMG runs with approximately 500 employees including 12 partners. Due to their professionalism and passion for excellence, KPMG has built an enviable reputation in Ghana and were recommended to audit the votes in the 2012 High Profile Election Petition involving the current President of Ghana, Nana Akuffo Addo and the Electoral Commission of Ghana.

In 2019 during the banking crisis occurred, KPMG staff were appointed as administrators and subsequently receivers when the licenses of some banks were revoked. KPMG remains one of the most prestigious auditing firms in the country.

4. Total Petroleum

Founded and Headquartered in France in 1924, Total Petroleum has grown tremendously and therefore has so many subsidiaries worldwide and is counted among the six “Super-major” oil companies in the world.

Total has been ranked as the world’s fourth-largest oil and gas Company, as well as a major integrated player in the global solar industry. Total has over 100,000 employees who make energy in our modern world better and better each and every day.

Total Petroleum Ghana has over 60 years of experience operating in the Ghanaian markets and owns 230 retail outlets spread countrywide. Borne out of extensive research spanning a number of years, Total has introduced a range of products that reflect consideration for both economic and environmental benefits to the public.

5. Vodafone

This telecommunication giant is a public limited company, founded over 28 years ago and has grown big through a series of mergers and acquisitions.

Vodafone provides fixed line telephone, mobile phones, broadband, digital television, internet television, Internet Protocol Television, Internet of things. Vodafone is headquartered in England and has a worldwide reach – subsidiaries and partners in over 70 countries.

The Ghanaian Subsidiary, Vodafone Ghana is the second-ranked operator in terms of market share in the sector. It is the most awarded telecoms company having won close to 70 local and international awards within the past four years. They have a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to social development in Ghana. They instituted Ghana’s first medical Call Centre through their innovative TV program “Vodafone Health Line”.

6. Guinness

This found in almost every pub and bar in Ghana, the dark tangy-tasting beer continues to sell really well and is a well-established beer brand. Guinness is not only popular in Ghana but worldwide sold in over 120 countries and brewed in almost 50 countries.

First brewed in Ireland in 1759 Guinness is now headquartered in London and being brewed by Diageo formed from the merger of Guinness Brewery and Grand Metropolitan – leisure, manufacturing and property conglomerate.

Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC is the Ghanaian wing of Diageo and is listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange. Guinness Ghana has brought some new innovative products like Orijin Zero and Origin Herbal Gin as well as plastic packaging for Malta Guinness which is increasing the dominion of the company in Ghana.

7. Coca Cola

Needing no introduction, this global soft drink brand has a very strong presence in Ghana thanks to the various television commercials which usually features popular football stars displaying their skills. Moreover, there was a time in Ghana when there were only a few soft drinks were in the markets and Coca Cola solidified their brand presence in those days.

To meet the growing needs of the ever changing markets, Coca Cola has brought various packaging which includes plastic bottling, mini-sized bottling a sugar-free and versions of the popular drink.

Coca Cola produces and sells other products like Fanta and Sprite which are well established in the Ghanaian markets. Equatorial Coca-Cola bottling Company is the mother company which runs the Coca Cola brand in 13 countries in the Northern and Western Africa.

8. Fan Milk Limited

FanMilk Limited is a leading dairy products manufacturer based in Accra, dominating the West African market. It was first started by Danish entrepreneur Erik Emborg in 1962, producing fresh milk based products in Ghana, a country where consumption of fresh milk wasn’t very popular to say the least.

In 2016, Danone became a majority shareholder of FanMilk International, owning 52% of the company and gaining full ownership just 3 years later.

FanMilk has become a household brand and one of the largest international companies in Ghana. Nowadays its icecream carts and bicycles are a common sight in the streest of Accra and other major Ghanaian cities.

We’re Green Views Residential, a leading real estate investment property in Accra, Ghana. Follow us on Facebook for news, articles and all kinds of current events about Accra, with special interest for those wanting to settle in the country or expats in Accra.