About Us
Built on twelve years of
real relationships.
American Council for Africa exists because its founder spent over a decade earning the trust that most trade organizations only claim to have.
The Founder
Charmian Graham Penda
Charmian Graham Penda is the Founder and CEO of American Council for Africa. Before launching ACA, she served for twelve years as Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cameroon (AmCham Cameroon) — a role that put her at the center of nearly every serious U.S.–Cameroon business conversation of that era.
That tenure is the reason ACA can offer real matchmaking rather than a directory. Introductions come from a network built meeting by meeting, delegation by delegation, over years — not from a database.
AmCham Cameroon
12 years as Executive Director
Led the American Chamber of Commerce in Cameroon, working directly with U.S. and Cameroonian companies, officials, and investors.
Founding
American Council for Africa launched
Charmian founded ACA to formalize that network into a dedicated matchmaking, advocacy, and trade mission practice.
Today
Take it to the top!
ACA continues to connect U.S. business with Cameroon through direct, personally vetted introductions.
Our Mission
To educate and attract business and investment in Cameroon through direct, personal engagement.
We do this through secured one-to-one matchmaking, advocacy on behalf of our partners, trade missions to the United States, and access to private equity financing.
Direct Relationships
No mass mailing lists — every introduction is made personally.
Regional Depth
Cameroon expertise built over more than a decade, not a broad claim.
Two-Way Advocacy
Representing interests honestly on both sides of the partnership.
Follow-Through
From first introduction to financing, we stay engaged.