Illinois REALTOR® Vicky Sampah reacts as the Ghana ambassador to the U.S. Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwua opens a gift after a meeting at the Ghana Embassy on Thursday, May 17, 2018, in Washington, D.C. Sampah has played an important role in forging relationships between the U.S. and Ghana real estate industries.

Illinois REALTORS® was represented on Thursday in a meeting with diplomats from Ghana on opportunities for housing investment in the African country.

REALTOR® Vicky Sampah, managing broker and CEO of the Abri Group LLC, helped lead the delegation, which was put together by NAR as part of a series of embassy visits Thursday. Sampah has been instrumental in helping form a real estate association in Ghana. The country is working on a comprehensive set of rules and regulations to govern private property transactions.

Attending the meeting was Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwua, Ghana’s ambassador to the U.S. The meeting was held at the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C., during the annual NAR Midyear Legislative Meetings and Trade Expo.

Kwabena Ampofo Appiah, managing director of Ghana’s State Housing Corporation provided a presentation on the need for additional capital to go toward home construction in Ghana. He noted that 800,000 housing units annually are needed to keep pace with demand and growth in the country.

Appiah said the corporation he represents is looking for partnerships to help meet the needs of the country. “Our doors are always open,” he said.

Also attending the meeting was Illinois REALTORS® Director of Housing, Global Business & Diversity Sharon Gorrell.

Diplomats from the Ghana Embassy in Washington , D.C., pose with REALTORS® at a meeting set up by NAR in Washington, D.C., to discuss the housing market market in the country.