A total of 20 business magnates have been honoured at the 5th Ghana Business Leaders Excellence Awards Ceremony organised by Top Brass Ghana.
The Ghana Business Leaders Excellence Awards Scheme has its origins in the Diamond Jubilee Business Leaders Excellence Awards which Top Brass Ghana was mandated by the National Planning Committee to organise within the context of the Ghana 60 Years on Anniversary Programme to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Ghana’s Independence in 2017.
The rationale for the Diamond Jubilee Awards Scheme was to personally honour business moguls who had distinguished themselves across the spectrum of economic activity, and in the process made remarkable contributions to Ghana’s development during the 60 years of independence.
This year’s 5th edition of the Awards, therefore, commemorated both the 65th Anniversary of Ghana’s Independence and the 5th Anniversary of the Awards Scheme itself.
Mr. Isaac Dakwa, Director of Top Brass Ghana, said this year’s awards ceremony was also dedicated to the memory of the late respected La Mantse, Nii Dr. Kpobi Tettey Tsuru III, who was the patron of the awards.
The Guest of Honour at the awards ceremony was Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. In a speech delivered on his behalf by his deputy, Mark Okraku-Mantey, he noted with pleasure the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area which will provide a single market for the continent, and promote trade, investment and business relations among member-countries.
In this regard, he urged the business community to be creative and innovation in order to take advantage of the unlimited opportunities unleashed by the establishment of an African single market.
He further underscored the importance of businesses adopting measures to cope with challenges and difficulties posed to the global environment which included the negative impact of COVID-19 and the upsurge in trouble spots in different parts of the world which adversely affect supply chains.
The minister was particularly delighted that Ghana has the benefit of the headquarters of AfCFTA being located in Accra, and stated that the business community should not hesitate to call at the AfCFTA Secretariat, either in person or online, to address any issues and concerns affecting them. He gave the assurance that Ghana was working closely with member-countries of the Area to make the business environment very friendly through the harmonisation of customs codes and procedures as well as the removal of tariff barriers, among other measures.
In a speech read on his behalf by a past president of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Seth Adjei Baah, the current president of the chamber, Mr. Clement Osei Amoako, who was the chairman for the occasion, commended government for the bold steps taken to address the challenges affecting the economy.
He stated that the chamber had been keenly monitoring developments in both the global and local markets with implications for the Ghanaian business community. Of urgent concern to the chamber, he observed, is the waning of confidence in the Ghanaian economy attributable to the rapid exchange rate depreciation, rising inflation, high fuel cost and the high risk of debt distress, among others.
Calling for a national discourse on the resilience of the economic structure of the country, he disclosed that the chamber was in the process of organising the Chamber CEOs Business Forum which seeks to bring together stakeholders from government, academia, the business community, professional bodies, development partners, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the media to enhance the quality of the discussion. The forum would provide feedforward on government monetary and fiscal policy measures in addressing the economic crisis.
Lifetime Achievement Awards were conferred on 20 of Ghana’s most distinguished business leaders for their exceptional accomplishments. They included: Mr. Nick Danso Adjei, Ghana Link Network Services (Trade Facilitation and Revenue Mobilisation); Dr. Stephen Osei Akoto, M-Plaza Hotel (Tourism – Hospitality); Dr. Felix Kwaku Anyah, Holy Trinity Medical Centre and Spa (Healthcare – Medicine and Health Tourism); Madam Doris Belinda Arkorful, Linda Dor Group of Companies (Tourism – Hospitality/Catering); Dr. Andrew Ananie Arkutu, Lashibi Funeral Home (Healthcare – Funeral Services); Mr. Kwabena Asante-Asare, Asanska Jewellery Limited (Jewellery Manufacturing and Gold Export) and Dr. Theresa Oppong Beeko, Manet Limited (Estate Development).
Some other award-winners were: Mr. Hayssam Fakhry, Interplast Limited (Manufacturing – Building Materials); Mr. Rockson Kwasi Dogbegah, Berock Ventures Limited (Building and Construction); Mr. Reginald Yofi Grant, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (Investment Promotion – Inward and Domestic); Dr. George E. Gyamfi-Osew, National Lottery Authority (National Revenue Mobilisation – Lottery); Dr. Stephen Sarfo Kantanka, Atwima Kwanwoma Rural Bank (Financial Services – Rural Banking) and Dr. Kwame Kyei, Unity Group (Energy- Petroleum).
The rest of the award-winners were: Dr. Daniel McKorley, McDan Group of Companies (Total Logistics); Mr. Muhammadu Muzzammil, Agroecom Ghana Limited (Commodity Marketing); Mr. Richard Duah Nsenkyire, Samartex Timber and Plywood Company Limited (Timber Processing and Export); Dr. Kwaku Oteng, Angel Group, (Healthcare – Herbal Medicine, Education and Media); Dr. Anthony Oteng-Gyasi, Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited, (Manufacturing – Construction Materials); Prof. Nii Narku Quaynor, Ghana Dot Com Limited (Information and Communications Technology); and Dr. Paul Sekyere-Nyantakyi, MDS-Lancet Laboratories (Ghana) Limited, (Healthcare – Medical Diagnostics).
