Thomas Svanikier

Last updated

Thomas Swaniker (born January 1960 [1] ) is a leading Ghanaian entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the founder and executive chairman of Svani Group, an automotive conglomerate, as well as a founder and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Fidelity Bank, a growing international financial institution.

Contents

Svanikier has been at the forefront of Ghana’s economic modernization over the past 25 years, most notably in the automobile and financial sectors.

Business story

Thomas Svanikier’s first venture was an automotive import business. Svani Limited, established in 1990, supplied Russian-made Lada cars to Ghanaian industry, NGOs and government agencies, and consumers throughout West Africa. In response to the notable absence of North American automobiles, Svani Limited reintroduced Ford and Lincoln Mercury cars to the Ghanaian market in 1994.

Svanikier quickly expanded his company and renamed it Svani Group. The company imports vehicles, leases, rents and sells cars, and is a distributor of generators and other heavy-duty equipment throughout West Africa. [2] Svani has sold armored vehicles to the Office of the President of Ghana, the U.S. Secret Service in Nigeria, the Governor of Lagos State, and the governments of Liberia and Togo. The group also provides automotive maintenance and specialized equipment to the U.S. Department of State in Ghana. [3]

Svani currently controls about 20% of the global vehicles market in Ghana and has service centers in Accra, Takoradi, Koforidua and Kumasi. Svani is also the sole importer and distributor of Mahindra vehicles, as well as the largest distributor of Toyota Land Cruisers and Ford vehicles in Ghana. In partnership with Svanikier’s company, Mahindra built a motorcycle and pickup truck assembly plant in Accra, Ghana. [4] The two companies are currently working on the development of a 9.6 acre car assembly and servicing center along the Accra-Tema motorway. [5]

A number of Svani-distributed vehicles have received nominations in Ghana’s Auto Awards. [6]

Svanikier ventured into private equity with the creation of Africa Capital LLC, which invests in transportation, energy, finance, and real estate projects.

In 2010, Africa Capital’s energy subsidiary, Atholl Energy, was lauded by then President John Evans Atta Mills for its joint project with the Siemens group to construct a 180-megawatt power generation plant that greatly augmented Ghana’s power supply. [7]

Africa Capital is the largest shareholder of Fidelity Bank. Fidelity is currently the fourth largest bank in Ghana, and is growing rapidly. Fidelity Bank has 98 branches in Ghana and plans to increase that number significantly in the coming years. [8] In July 2020, the bank’s total assets stood at GHC 10.2 billion. [9]

In July 2015, Svanikier and his wife were invited to be part of U.S. President Barack Obama’s delegation during his official visit to Kenya. Svanikier was also asked to take part in the Global Entrepreneurship Summit organized in Nairobi, Kenya by the U.S. Department of Commerce, at which the president met with leading figures in African business circles.

As of 2015, Svanikier serves as the senior adviser for Africa for the Transnational Strategy Group, [10] a Washington, D.C.–based [11] company that provides consultancy services for governments and companies on economic and political issues. [12]

Philanthropy

It is really gratifying to see organizations like Svani step up and join the fight against Ebola.The response needs equipment, logistical support, technology and innovation and this partnership is going to boost the UN’s efforts to end this horrible disease.

— Dominic Sam
UNDP Country Director in Accra [13]

Svanikier is a well-known philanthropist in Ghana.

He serves as a leader for the Opportunities Industrialisation Centre (also known as OIC International). [10] OIC is a non-profit group in Pennsylvania that gives technical and vocational skills training to underprivileged adults and teenagers. [14]

He is also a leader of the Africa Poverty Eradication Commission located in Accra. [10]

Svanikier is known as a generous supporter of education and youth development programs, and has donated a 35-seat bus worth $64,000 to Ghana’s renowned Winneba Youth Choir. [15]

He is also an ongoing benefactor of the Presbyterian Schools in the Accra neighborhood of Osu. He funded the installation of its clean water and sanitation systems, as well as the construction of its Primary School for girls and a modern library with a computer laboratory. The Girls’ School facilities are dedicated to the memory of his late mother, Agnes Federica Svanikier.

In December, 2014, in the midst of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Svani Group partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the fight against the Ebola epidemic. Svani Group donated eight heavy-duty vehicles as well as several power generators to the United Nation’s Ebola Emergency Response. [16]

In 2015, Svanikier and his wife founded the Svanikier Public Policy Leadership Initiative, which donated $100,000 to the University of Oxford’s School of Government. [17] The funds went towards sponsorship for six Ghanaian public officials to attend courses at the University focused on Governance and Natural Resource management.

Personal

Svanikier is married and has a son and two daughters. His wife, Johanna Odonkor Svanikier, was a Fulbright Scholar who studied at University of Oxford and Harvard University. Johanna Odonkor-Svanikier was Ghana’s Ambassador to France, Portugal and UNESCO. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Ghana</span>

The economy of Ghana has a diverse and rich resource base, including the manufacturing and export of digital technology goods, automotive and ship construction and export, and the export of resources such as hydrocarbons and industrial minerals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Arthur Ankrah</span> Head of State of Ghana from 1966 to 1969

Joseph Arthur Ankrah was a Ghanaian army general who was the second head of state of Ghana from 1966 to 1969 as chairman of the National Liberation Council. He was Ghana's first military head of state. Ankrah also served as the fourth chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity from 24 February 1966 to 5 November 1966. Previously, Ankrah was appointed the first commander of the Ghana Army in 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Ghana</span> Public university in Accra

The University of Ghana is a public university located in Accra, Ghana. It is the oldest public university in the country.

Articles related to Ghana include:

Republic Bank (Ghana) PLC is a commercial bank in Ghana. It is one of the commercial banks licensed by the Bank of Ghana, the central bank and national banking regulator.

Industry in Ghana accounts for about 24.5% of total GDP. However, Ghana's industrial production is rising at a 7.8% rate, giving it the 38th fastest growing industrial production in the world due to government industrialization policies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electricity sector in Ghana</span>

Ghana generates electric power from hydropower, fossil-fuel, and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy. Electricity generation is one of the key factors in order to achieve the development of the Ghanaian national economy, with aggressive and rapid industrialization; Ghana's national electric energy consumption was 265 kilowatt hours per each one in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accra Academy</span> Male second cycle institution in Kaneshie, Ghana

Accra Academy is a boys' high school located at Bubuashie near Kaneshie in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. It admits both boarding and day students. Founded as a private school in 1931, it gained the status of a Government-Assisted School in 1950. It is the oldest existing high school to have been founded in the Gold Coast without prior involvement of a religious society, the government or a chiefdom.

Jay Ghartey, also known as Kweku Gyasi Ghartey, is a Ghanaian–American music producer, singer, and songwriter based in New York City, describing his style as African Rhythm and Blues. He released his debut album Shining Gold in 2011. He is most famous for the singles "My Lady" and "Papa". He is also the co-founder and co-owner of "GH Brothers", an independent record label and production company with his brother DJ and music producer Joe Ghartey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CFAO Ghana</span> Ghanaian automobile company

CFAO Ghana, also known as CFAO Motors Ghana, is a Ghanaian automobile company. It was formed in 1909 and is currently headed by Paulo Fernandes.

Bank of Africa Ghana Limited, also referred to as BOA Ghana, is a commercial bank in Ghana. It is one of the commercial banks licensed by Bank of Ghana, the central bank of Ghana, and the national banking regulator. the bank has 33 branches in 2015.

Africa World Airlines Limited (AWA) is a Ghanaian airline company that was incorporated in 2010 and commenced flights in 2012. It has its head office in Airport City Accra, and its main hub at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.

Ecobank Kenya is a commercial bank in Kenya. It is one of the commercial banks licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya, the central bank and national banking regulator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Responses to the West African Ebola virus epidemic</span>

Organizations from around the world responded to the West African Ebola virus epidemic. In July 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) convened an emergency meeting with health ministers from eleven countries and announced collaboration on a strategy to co-ordinate technical support to combat the epidemic. In August, they declared the outbreak an international public health emergency and published a roadmap to guide and coordinate the international response to the outbreak, aiming to stop ongoing Ebola transmission worldwide within 6–9 months. In September, the United Nations Security Council declared the Ebola virus outbreak in the West Africa subregion a "threat to international peace and security" and unanimously adopted a resolution urging UN member states to provide more resources to fight the outbreak; the WHO stated that the cost for combating the epidemic will be a minimum of $1 billion.

Nathan Anang Quao, was a Ghanaian statesman and educationist who served as Secretary (Minister) at the PNDC Secretariat from 1984 to 1993 and Special Assistant to President Jerry Rawlings from 1993 to 2001. A career diplomat and civil servant, he retired as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service in 1973. Quao was the founding headmaster of Keta Secondary School in 1953 and was appointed the first chairman of the Ghana Education Service Council in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Absa Bank Ghana</span> Ghanaian commercial bank

Absa Bank Ghana Limited (ABGL), formerly known as Barclays Bank of Ghana Limited, is a commercial bank in Ghana, licensed by the Bank of Ghana, the country's central bank and national banking regulator. ABGL is a subsidiary of Absa Group Limited, a financial services conglomerate, headquartered in South Africa, with subsidiaries in 12 African countries and with assets in excess of US$87 billion as of 30 June 2017. Absa Group's shares trade on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange under the symbol ABG.

First National Bank Ghana Limited (FNBGL), commonly referred to as First National Bank Ghana, is a commercial bank in Ghana. It is licensed by the Bank of Ghana, the central bank and national banking regulator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First presidency of John Mahama</span> Ghanaian presidential administration from 2012 to 2017

John Mahama's first tenure as President of Ghana began when he succeeded John Atta Mills following the latter's death in office on 24 July 2012. Mahama previously served as Vice-President of Ghana from January 2009 to July 2012, and is the first head of state of Ghana to have been born after the country's independence. He was elected after the December 2012 election for a full term as president.

Julian Kingsley Opuni is a Ghanaian banker who is the managing director of Ghanaian bank, Fidelity Bank since assuming the role in December 2018. He is the 3rd managing director of the bank, which is the largest privately-owned bank and remains the 4th largest bank in Ghana in assets and deposits as at July 2022, and he took over from bank co-founder Jim Baiden.

The Jospong Group of Companies, commonly referred to as the Jospong Group, is a privately owned conglomerate in Ghana. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, a Ghanaian businessman, is the founder of the group and is a shareholder in each of the companies in the Group. He serves as the executive chairman of the group.

References

  1. ↑ "Mr Thomas Swanikier Director Profile - Endole". www.endole.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  2. ↑ "About Svani Limited". Svani Limited. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "Svani Ltd. in Accra - Contracting Profile". InsideGov.com. Graphiq, Inc. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "Mahindra to open auto assembly plant in Ghana". Artis.com. Artis Management Consultants Private Limited. 12 August 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  5. ↑ Obour, Samuel K. (8 August 2013). "Svani Motors to establish vehicle assembly plant". Graphic Online. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Nominees". Ghana Auto Awards. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  7. ↑ "President lauds Siemens, Atholl power project". Mingle's base. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  8. ↑ Dzawu, Moses (2 September 2014). "Rothschild-Backed Fidelity of Ghana to Double Branches". BloombergBusiness. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  9. ↑ "Fidelity Bank Q2 2020 Financial Reports". www.fidelitybank.com.gh. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  10. 1 2 3 "The Transnational Strategy Group Team". Transnational Strategy Group. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  11. ↑ "Contact - Transnational Strategy Group". Transnational Strategy Group. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  12. ↑ "Transnational Strategy Group - Home" . Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  13. ↑ "Svani Group joins private sector effort to combat Ebola". United Nations Development Programme. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  14. ↑ "About Us | OIC International". www.oici.org. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  15. ↑ "Svani Group Donates Bus To Winneba Youth Choir". Mingle's base. 9 March 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  16. ↑ Owusu, Bossman (18 December 2014). "Svani Group joins private sector effort to combat Ebola". ReliefWeb. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  17. ↑ "Fidelity Bank | Board of Directors". Fidelity Bank. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  18. ↑ "Home - Ghana Embassy, Paris". paris.embassy.gov.gh. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.