Thomas Svanikier is a Ghanaian citizen, born, raised and educated in Accra, Ghana. He is a descendant of Danish entrepreneurs who migrated from Denmark and settled in Christiansburg – Osu, in Accra. He is the founder of a number of companies including Svani Group of which he is executive chairman and a non-executive director for several other companies. He acts as a consultant and advocate for international companies who wish to invest and operate in Ghana and elsewhere in Africa.
He founded Svani Limited in 1990 as an automobile retailing company based in Accra, Ghana, supplying vehicles to Ghana and neighbouring countries. Since then it has expanded and diversified into the Svani Group with subsidiaries and capital investments in transportation, energy, finance and real estate. Svani Ltd is a manufacturers’ representative for several international industrial firms.
He is also co-founder and chairman of Africa Capital Ltd, the largest shareholder of Fidelity Bank Ghana Ltd and Fidelity Asia Bank, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as well as chairman of the advisory board of Fidelity Bank Ghana Ltd. He is co-founder and chairman of Dream Oval Limited, a technology start-up company developing internet security systems software and mobile hardware for global markets. He is co-founder and director of Atholl Energy Limited, working with Siemens to provide energy generation solutions to Ghana. He is founder and chairman of Global Strategic Ventures Ltd, which supplies security solutions, armoured vehicles and bullion vans for governments, banks and mining companies.
Mr. Svanikier is a non-executive director of Opportunities Industrialisation Centre, and the Africa Poverty Eradication Commission, both located in Accra, Ghana. He is a founding member and former non-executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana. In light of all his philanthropic acts and generosity, Mr. Svanikier was honored with the highest award of the land (The Order of the Volta) by the Government of Ghana in 2023, recognizing his role and contribution as a part of the initial ten funders of the Ghana Infectious Disease Hospital which had been developed in response to the COVID – 19 Pandemic. He has recently been elected as President of the Jewish community of Ghana.