Chipper Cash CEO Joins U.S. President's Advisory Council

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced the appointment of Ham Serunjogi, CEO of Chipper Cash, as a member of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States. Serunjogi, along with 11 other African Americans, will serve on the Council until 2025.

The White House said that the selected individuals are chosen for their commitment to assisting business, sports, government, creative industries, social work, academia, and faith-based activities. 

The role of the 12-member advisory council is to provide guidance that will help boost social, cultural, economic, and political ties between the U.S. and Africa, which in turn will foster investment, trade, and educational exchanges between the United States and Africa.

Dana Banks, the special assistant to President Biden and special adviser for the U.S.-Africa Summit, last year commented on the president's plan to sign an order to establish a council that will strengthen the ties between the U.S. and Africa. She said, “African voices are essential to solving global problems. To elevate these voices, one of our primary focuses is to widen our circle of engagement to include African Diaspora communities.”

However, it didn’t take long before President Biden instructed the Secretary of State on December 13, 2022, to create an advisory council on African diaspora engagement in the United States.

Part of the Statement Released by the White House Reads,

Today, President Biden is announcing the inaugural members of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States. The establishment of this Council was a significant commitment announced by Vice President Harris on behalf of the Biden-Harris Administration during the 2022 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, aimed at enhancing dialogue between United States officials and the African Diaspora.

The African Diaspora in the United States, a rich and diverse community of African Americans and African immigrants, is foundational to our 21st century partnership with Africa. This community, which includes descendants of enslaved Black Americans, has long advocated for the prosperity of the African continent and its people, and strengthened the unique relationship between the United States and Africa.

Read more at the official White House website.

Also, the CEO of Chipper Cash, Ham Serunjogi, who is a native of Uganda, gave his comment about working in alliance with the United States to make sure the ties between the U.S. and Africa are strengthened.

He said,

• I look forward to advising President Biden on a range of issues, including how to strengthen relations between Africa and the United States, promoting trade and investment and building educational exchanges, among other issues.

He also shared his happiness on X, formerly known as Twitter

Other members of the Council that will serve are,

1. Silvester Scott Beaman of Delaware, Chair

2. Mimi E. Alemayehou of Washington, D.C., Member

3. Rosalind Brewer of Georgia, Member

4. Viola Davis of Rhode Island, Member

5. Helene D. Gayle of Georgia, Member

6. Patrick Hubert Gaspard of New York, Member

7. C.D. Glin of Connecticut, Member

8. Osagie Imasogie of Pennsylvania, Member

9. Almaz Negash of California, Member

10. Chinenye Joy Ogwumike of Texas, Member

11. Ham K. Serunjogi of California, Member

12. Kevin Young of Washington, D.C., Member

Click here to see the profiles of the 12 members of the U.S. President's Advisory Council.