A new organisation, Ghana Chamber of Events Management (GCEM), has been established to serve as a regulatory and advocacy body for its members and of the events industry in Ghana.
It was established earlier this year, by private sector players in the events management industry, experts and personnel in the various aspects of the local events industry, third party suppliers, and other strategic partners and stakeholders in the area.
The chamber is expected to regulate the sector by adopting and applying internationally accepted standards in events management to the local industry. It will be presided over by an 11-member board of director drawn from the various segments of the industry.
It will provide an overall strategic national events management framework for advocacy and direction for all its members, third party suppliers, and any other operators in the country for the purposes of developing events management as an industry.
The chamber will also coordinate, regulate, direct, promote and encourage the development of, and enhancement of internationally recognised standards in the industry; and
To foster goodwill and promote regulated events industry for desired socio-economic development and benefits as a professional services industry partner to government through increased employment opportunities; and assisting to position Ghana as a preferred global events destination.
GCEM’s constitution, which was adopted by members in March, mentioned corporate institutions, individuals, affiliate organisations, honorary persons, and distinguished fellows as those qualified to be members of the chamber.
It also entrusted the day-to-day running of the chamber to a chief executive officer who is to be appointed by the board.
The CEO “shall be responsible for the overall coordination of short and medium-term strategies for the development and growth of GCEM nation-wide and globally,” the constitution said.
Among its core objectives, the constitution said GCEM would serve as an advocacy institution for the industry, lobby government for the advancement, growth, promotion and development of the industry, and arbitrate resolution of all industry-related disputes, among others.
It also gives the board the authority to prescribe subscriptions, fees and levies to be paid by members for services rendered them by the chamber.
The accrued revenues are to be used to fund the running of the chamber.
GCEM’s formation is timely, given that it comes at a time the events management industry is booming following the hosting of many local and international ceremonies in the country.
It’s coming into being is, therefore, expected to help serve as a regulatory body that will liaise with the relevant public institutions to streamline the operations of companies and individuals in the area.
The categories / divisions of the Events Industry shall include but not limited to some of the divisions and categories of event management, architecture, planning & organisation; corporate gifts & apparel suppliers; conference planners & organisers; exhibition stand builders & designers;
Others are outdoor advertising & promotions; packaging; point-of-sale advertising; print, electronic & new media platform owners; production houses, reproduction & printing companies; signage & stationery; catering companies; conference solutions – interpretations, translations & rapportéuring; décor & design; entertainment companies & artistes;
Professional speakers; masters of ceremonies, rental companies; special event producers; staging, lighting & audio visuals; technical services & products; conference-support services; travel & transport; venue & event rights owners & hospitality; and protocol services & security; and promoters of events.