Subchapters:
- Introduction
- Addressing
- Business Meeting
- Communication
- Recommendations
- Public holidays
Introduction
Negotiations with Ghanaian partners must be prepared at least as conscientiously and approached in the same way as negotiations with partners in Western Europe. In addition, the fact that they are representatives of a different cultural circle must be taken into account: the presentation must therefore be clear, comprehensible and convincing. Africans don’t like to read between the lines, so you have to be specific and to the point. Punctuality is not common in Ghana – 15 minutes to several hours late is quite common. Negotiations are often postponed, and business partners often do not show up for meetings at all, and do not even apologize. When preparing and planning the meeting time, it is usually necessary to plan a reserve of several days. Access to contractual obligations is relatively free – it is good (especially if the Czech company does not know the business partner) to insist on payment in advance, or an irrevocable letter of credit confirmed by a reliable bank. It is not recommended to pay in advance for purchased goods (however, it depends on specific cases, large companies usually have good payment discipline). The language of business in Ghana is English, but you need to get used to the local pronunciation. Negotiations tend to be conducted in a friendly and cordial atmosphere, although in tense moments Ghanaians are impulsive and emotional. Clothing is either traditional or European (a suit with a tie is always desirable for meetings). The importance of acquaintances, recommendations and personal contacts is very important when closing deals. however, it is necessary to get used to the local pronunciation. Negotiations tend to be conducted in a friendly and cordial atmosphere, although in tense moments Ghanaians are impulsive and emotional. Clothing is either traditional or European (a suit with a tie is always desirable for meetings). The importance of acquaintances, recommendations and personal contacts is very important when closing deals. however, it is necessary to get used to the local pronunciation. Negotiations tend to be conducted in a friendly and cordial atmosphere, although in tense moments Ghanaians are impulsive and emotional. Clothing is either traditional or European (a suit with a tie is always desirable for meetings). The importance of acquaintances, recommendations and personal contacts is very important when closing deals.
- Barblejewelry: Overview of Ghana, including popular places to visit, UNESCO World Heritage List, climate, geography and travel advice.
Addressing
The first step is to realize whether your product or service is applicable in the Ghanaian market. The market here is 90% purely pro-import and most things are imported from abroad. It is important to remember that the market is very price sensitive. A lot of goods are imported from China, which you cannot compete with, but there are a lot of companies that are rich and prefer quality. Personal contact via e-mail is important, and you can communicate by phone only after establishing a business relationship.
- Programingplease: Yearbook 2010 of nation Ghana, including population, politics, and abbreviations.
Business meeting
How to arrange a business meeting and how it goes (location and time of the meeting /office, restaurant; lunch, dinner/, business cards, gifts, etc. )? Negotiations with Ghanaian partners must be prepared at least as conscientiously and approached in the same way as negotiations with partners in Western Europe. In addition, the fact that they are representatives of a different cultural circle must be taken into account: the presentation must therefore be clear, comprehensible and convincing. Africans do not like to read between the lines, so it is necessary to speak concretely and directly to the point. There is a different perception of time, especially meetings at offices and ministries take place ad hoc, it is not very possible to plan your schedule. You will usually receive a confirmation of an appointment at the ministry a few hours in advance, but certainly not a week in advance. In the case of a business trip, it is necessary to allow sufficient time reserve, arm yourself with patience and be flexible. Every Monday morning all ministries have internal meetings, so meetings with officials can be scheduled until the afternoon or another day. The use of business cards is common, Ghanaians like to use high-quality paper and printing because even business cards say something about a person and here the form is emphasized not only the content. Ghanaians are very fond of ceremonies and ceremonies, at official meetings the Ghanaian side is represented by a large choir. A gift is not necessary, but it is a gesture that can help improve communication. What surprises a Czech businessman the most during negotiations? Don’t succumb to first impressions, especially not those based on time-honored clichés and media images of “poor Africa”. One of the characteristic features of the sub-Saharan region is the considerable gap between social classes. A number of Africans who hold higher positions in the state administration or in the management of private entities come from socially successfully established, often influential and financially well-off families. That is why they tend to be graduates or even have academic degrees from one or more prestigious world universities. Africans generally value the achievement of high social status, which the successful often demonstrate with a conspicuous emphasis on ostentatiousness and material self-presentation. It is good to address the partner by title, e.g. Mr. Doctor, Mr. Director. What are ….. traders? Ghanaian partners are usually well prepared for the negotiations, above all they have a good knowledge of the competition’s prices. Exaggerating the quality of one’s own goods or slandering the quality of competitors is undesirable. When talking to each other, you need to be receptive, open to the unexpected, neither condescending nor condescending, flexibly keeping your standards. Is negotiating with local traders different, made difficult by cultural/religious/ethnic differences? Christianity prevails in Ghana, alcohol is drunk, there are essentially no differences from European customs. The influence of Islam is more in the north, in the neighborhood of Burkina Faso, where Islam predominates. Women are respected as business partners, there are many female ministers and businesswomen. On the other hand, he pays great attention to tribal traditions and ceremonies. Respect for old age and a sense of hierarchy are deeply rooted in African partners. How do ….. traders manage time in a business meeting? Time is the gift of Africa” and it flows differently for Africans. It is necessary to arrive at the meeting on time, but do not automatically expect the same from the African side. It is necessary to be flexible, to allow for possible downtime and delays in planning. In the event of the other party’s delay, it is best to pass the matter on and concentrate on the content of the meeting. There is a consensual way of negotiating in Africa. This means that the opposing parties talk and talk until they reach an agreement. That is why it is necessary to have time in reserve for several meetings. In negotiations in Europe, the punctuality of Africans is significantly better. How do ….. traders deal with emotions in a business negotiation? On average, Africans are somewhat better equipped with emotional intelligence and empathy than Europeans: they often “read” their partner before he does, and do not hesitate to exploit the identified weaknesses. At the same time, they actively work with emotions. Are there any territorial differences in business dealings within a country? It can be said that the south of the country, including the capital, is more Christian, the north more Muslim, which may result from local specifics. Visit Allunitconverters for more information about Ghana culture and traditions. It is suitable or customary to offer alcohol during business meetings? Generally yes. Ghanaians don’t like tea and coffee, but you won’t offend anyone with whisky. (If he is not a Muslim) How should he dress for a work meeting? The first impression and external appearance are important. All Ghanaians are very well groomed, for them outward appearance is a calling card and they will judge you accordingly. Clothes make the man here. For a business meeting, dress formally, preferably a dark suit, tie. It would be a shame to leave a bad impression despite an excellent business offer. Don’t underestimate clothes and appearance. What should an ideal negotiation team look like (number of members, age and gender composition of the team, team leader) ? There is an emphasis on status and seniority. The higher the business partner, the better. Better to overestimate your position in the company than to underestimate it. Respect for old age and a sense of hierarchy are deeply rooted in African partners. Therefore, it can be good for a senior colleague to be part of the business delegation. It is customary to invite a business partner to your home, or be invited home? If so, what is usual for such a visit, what to expect? In Ghana, it is not customary to invite your foreign business partner home. However, in exceptional cases, after the establishment of a long-term business relationship, such an invitation may occur. In such a case, it is customary to bring a small gift to the partner (branded wine, expensive alcohol, flowers to the business partner or the business partner’s wife).
Communication
Is it important to bring an interpreter with you ? The ability to communicate in English is sufficient, it is spoken by the majority of the population. You need to get used to the local dialect. How about language facilities? The population is fluent in English and speaks one or more of 50 local languages. Are there any communication taboos? Saving face is extremely important to Ghanaians. During negotiations, it is therefore necessary to be careful so that the Ghanaian counterpart does not get into an embarrassing situation and to pay attention to a certain tact, sensitivity and restraint. Although Christianity is the majority, there is a belief in traditional Voodoo magic that most people respect, even superstitiously fear, so it is better to avoid certain topics of conversation. What is the best way to communicate (in person, email, phone, etc.)? Definitely a personal meeting. Business is not closed here by e-mail or phone, unless the partners have known each other for a long time. It is necessary to build personal trust first.
Recommendation
What advice would you give to entrepreneurs who are going to Ghana? Basic principles when dealing with Ghanaian partners, the respect of which will help the promotion of the business plan: – Contact ZÚ Accra, which can provide you with up-to-date information, advise on the business case, verify the reality of the business offer, arrange meetings, provide assistance – Establish a personal relationship with the partner (find out his hobbies, invite him to the Czech Republic, pay attention to him properly here). – Always smile, be polite and pleasant. – Don’t complain about little things. – Criticize indirectly and avoid confrontation. – Never show anger – there is a risk of losing your partner’s respect. – Not trying to obviously gain an advantage over your partner – you need to be cooperative and work together. One battle won can sometimes lose the war. – Take your time. Gradually moving from general things to specific things will help the partner to better understand the proposals. – Allow for delays – factor them into the program. – Prepare the project well and be specific in your argumentation. – Always calculate with discounts and commissions. The price factor is decisive in the local market and is often fatal for suppliers of too high-quality (and therefore expensive) goods.
Public Holidays
January 16 March (Independence Day, usually the following day is also free) Easter Monday1. May 25 May 1 July first Friday in December (Farmers day)25. and December 26. Easter and the Muslim holidays of Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha are also celebrated. If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is a day off. The holiday period is roughly from mid-December to mid-January. At this time, many companies have a company-wide holiday and it is not recommended to plan a business/business trip to Ghana during this period.
