Royal Philips Electronics has announced its intention to establish its first West African office in Accra as part of plans to increase its presence in the sub-region.

The regional office is expected to be functional by the third quarter of 2012.

Philips currently has a project office in Ghana but intends to develop this into a West African regional hub to provide dedicated support to Ghana and the region for all its main three sectors of healthcare, lighting and consumer lifestyle.

Roelof Assies, Director and District Manager, Philips Healthcare Africa disclosed this to journalists when the third pan African Philips road show made its first stop in Ghana.

The road show started in Cairo, Egypt on May 14, 2012 and is expected to end in Cape Town, South Africa on August 16 2012 to raise awareness on how healthcare and lighting solutions can enhance life in Africa.

At part of the three-day stop over in Accra from June 12 to 15, 2012, a team from Philips held series of meeting with stakeholders from both private and public sectors and clinical training sessions.

Mr Assies explained that the new regional office would support the local channel partners across the West African markets and help bring Philips closer to customers and key decision makers as well as broaden the range of product offerings and customer services.

Philips has a long history in Ghana serving both the public and private sector with the healthcare arm engaging with the Ministry of Health to revitalize the healthcare infrastructure in a nationwide project that has seen substantial improvements in over 110 hospitals across Ghana.

“As a leading company in health and well-being, Philips aims to help transform the quality of healthcare in Ghana and other African countries through meaningful solutions, innovations and partnerships. Our expansion and continued growth in Africa is a testament to our unwavering commitment to the region, and is part of a strategic vision of Africa as an important growth market for the company,” said Mr Assies.

“The decision to develop Ghana as the West African Regional HQ is because of its stable economy, safe and peaceful environment, availability of human resources, good communications network and proactive and strong local Government”.

As part of the road show, Philips provided clinical training with the aim of increasing the quality of healthcare workforce and to help them accomplish safe childbirths and improve healthy motherhood.

The company is also displaying some of its new health and lighting products such as technology equipment for baby resuscitation, fetal monitoring and clinical ultrasound for obstetricians, among others.

Johanna Maach, an application specialist on ultrasound at Philips, who spoke after the company unveiled its latest ultrasound and monitoring products specifically designed for caregivers across the wide variety of clinical environments in Ghana, explained the functions of the new ClearVue 550, a ultrasound solutions that provide cost effective yet high quality imaging.

She explained that apart from its portability and user-friendly it is designed to provide clinicians examining patients with details that would enhance their decision-making process.