Our Company Focus

SEM International Associates Ltd. was founded in 1994 by Dr. Sam Mensah after several years of experience in industry, government and academia and as an independent consultant. The start-up of the firm occurred at a period of unprecedented change in the economic and political environment within which business operates in Ghana and the broader African continent. Since the mid-1980s, many African countries such as Ghana have undertaken comprehensive reform programs designed to transform their economies from highly controlled systems towards market driven economies. This transformation has challenged the capacity of both governments and the private sector. The reform of the financial sector, privatization, trade liberalization and demands for improved governance have created new capacity needs for governments. For the private sector, the challenge of operating in a more competitive environment is forcing companies to revamp their strategies and their operational and financial policies.

SEM was set up to provide expertise to governments and the private sector as they respond to these new demands. The company is driven by a quest to build a consulting company that is committed to the highest quality of service based on state-of-the-art knowledge. The vision is to build a principled company that would provide quality consulting services for both business and government in particular, but with the capability to provide consulting services across the entire African region.

SEM employs a team approach that allows us to bring a multidisciplinary expertise to bear on complex problems. The key to our success is that we have a worldwide network of highly qualified associates who can be brought together to form project teams on specific projects.

SEM does not pretend to be a comprehensive consulting firm. Our services have been carefully chosen and focused to reflect service areas that build on the expertise of our key associates. This specialization enables us to keep up to date on the state-of-the-art practices in each specialization. Our projects are carefully planned, closely controlled and highly focused on the implementation of lasting benefits to our clients. We offer fresh thinking, boundless energy, innovation and confidence. Our distinguishing characteristics are:

• Creativity: We have an entrepreneurial outlook with multidisciplinary minds. This enables us to create solutions that are unconventional but respond to client needs and can withstand the test of time.
• Professional Training: Associates of SEM have achieved the highest standards of academic training and experience in highly reputable firms.
• Value: Our overriding goal is to make clients succeed. We believe that we prosper when our clients prosper. We take a long view of our relationships with clients, always anticipating needs and generating proactive responses. High quality service and timely delivery are our hallmarks.
• Experience: Our experience is broad and has been accumulated across a wide variety of disciplines, firms and countries. Associates of SEM have experience in both advanced and developing economies.

SEM International Associates is a member firm of SEM Group Limited, a consulting and investment advisory group. The other member firm of the group is SEM Capital Management Limited, an investment advisory firm. We are able to bring the resources of the entire group to bear on assignments for our clients.