Tell us about it!
|
|
|
Benson Okundi
Senior Manager
Assurance
Joined PwC Ghana from Kenya in 1999 |
I joined the Ghana office from PwC Kenya in 1999 for what was initially meant
to be a two-year secondment. However, I have been in Ghana for the last 4 years.
I attribute my longer stay in Ghana to two main factors; business development
in the Ghana office and career progression.
My experience in Ghana in a wider perspective has been an excellent one. In
the office, I have developed myself using the balanced score card i.e. clients,
firm and people. I have derived my satisfaction from business and staff development
and ensuring compliance with the firm’s issues. I have also travelled
widely in Ghana and the neighbouring countries largely due to the nature of
my clients’ engagements and also on personal trips. Due to my frequent
visits to some parts of Ghana, I have been given chieftaincy titles such as
“Nana and Togbe”. I have always been careful to accept only the
most lucrative titles. I have enjoyed the social warmth of the Ghanaian community
and they have gladly accepted me as one of their own.
What appears to be such an excellent experience can’t go without enormous
challenges. Business development has always been and continues to be my challenge
in Ghana. It is hard doing business in Ghana and until you try it in Ghana,
you may not understand what I mean.
Another exciting experience!
|
|
|
Michael Asiedu - Antwi
Senior Manager,
Assurance |
I am one of the professional staff from Ghana who has recently participated
in the firm’s secondment programme.
In 1999, I re-located to Tanzania where I worked with the Assurance and Audit
Practice in the Dar-es-Salaam office. I had the opportunity of working on the
audits of a number of multinationals corporations and local companies as well.
It has been a very useful experience for me, meeting and sharing experiences
with different professionals and learning a new culture.
I still remember vividly, my trip to Lake Manyara and the famous Ngorogoro
Crater, where I met all the ‘big five’. My trips to the exotic island
of Zanzibar on client work which were quite refreshing. Secondment is something
you should definitely aim for.
….and another!
|
|
|
James Karanja
Manager
Assurance
Joined PwC Ghana from PwC Kenya in October 2002 |
Although Ghana and Kenya happen to be South of the Sahara and North of Limpopo
(as my Maths teacher would describe it), the two countries differ on a number
of areas. One of my biggest problems is that I have not managed to trace what
I could call "Central Business District" in Accra, since it is such
a "scattered city" as opposed to Nairobi, which is more "together",
with a clear demarcation of the CBD, which is marked by several skyscrapers.
Accra however is more secure compared to Nairobi, and so I don't have to look
around before answering a call on my cell phone.
My work experience has been tremendous, providing assurance/advisory services
to our valued PSG clients. I have provided advisory services to our clients
both donors and implementing agencies, and helped them realise the potential
that there is in Ghana especially in pursuing poverty alleviation.
All this would not have been possible without the enabling environment provided
in the PwC Ghana office, where we are a small family.
Today, when driving on the Accra roads, I don't find myself on the left side
of the road as I often used to in my first few months in Ghana. I have also
learnt that “Akwaaba”, “Medase” and “eye”
are neither French nor Greek words. They are sweet words spoken in Africa -
North of Limpopo where everybody is either “broda” or sister!
