The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, has addressed a plea to corporate Ghana to be innovative and support government as it takes viable but tough decisions which are intended to make the Ghanaian economy bounce back from the destructive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a speech delivered on his behalf as Guest of Honour by his deputy, Mark Okraku Mantey at the 15th Ghana Premier Business and Finance Excellence Awards Ceremony, organised by Top Brass Ghana, Dr. Awal observed that the whole world was going through economic turbulence as a consequence of the pandemic, and lately, the Russia-Ukraine war.
He stated that while Ghana has not been spared by this global adverse economic climate, government has initiated and will continue to initiate measures to ensure full recovery of the Ghanaian economy.
According to Mr. Isaac Dakwa, Director of Top Brass Ghana, this year’s award ceremony commemorated the 65th anniversary of Ghana’s independence, as well as the 15th anniversary of the awards scheme.
Dr. Awal noted that having switched to a multi-party democracy in 1992, Ghana has been one of the most economically and politically stable countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with strong governance and public institutions, adding that on a Global Peace Index, Ghana ranks first in West Africa, second in Africa and 38th globally.
He stressed that President Akuffo Addo’s administration has gone to great lengths to ensure that the country’s current political environment is safe and economic environment competitive.
Touching on tourism, Dr. Awal described the Tourism Sector as a major contributor to the nation’s economic development.
He stated that the Year of Return initiative in 2019 saw Ghana registering an unprecedented international arrivals into the country exceeding one million tourists, though this was slowed down by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Awal was, however, optimistic that with the progressive measures put in place by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the ministry and its associate agencies can achieve two million international arrivals by 2024 with a corresponding revenue of about US$4billion.
Mr. Ralph Ayitey, National Treasurer of the Association of Ghana Industries, was the chairman for the occasion.
He paid compliments to Top Brass Ghana, acknowledging it is no mean feat to sustain the awards scheme for 15 years since it started as the Golden Jubilee Business and Financial Services Excellence Awards as part of the Ghana @50 Anniversary Programme when Ghana celebrated 50 years of independence in 2007.
Mr. Ayitey also commended the award-winners for their excellent performance, notwithstanding the harsh global economic difficulties.
He urged the business community to do extra research into how to position Ghana to be more competitive to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
This year’s award-winners included: Appointed Time Printing Limited (Commercial Graphic Design and Screen Printing); Aviation Social Centre Limited (Healthcare/Well-being, Fitness and Recreation); Benso Oil Palm Plantation Plc. (Agro-Processing); City Facilities Management Limited (Facilities Management/Cleaning and Janitorial Services) and COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited (Healthcare/Herbal Medicine).
Some other award recipients were: Fiaseman Rural Bank Plc. (Banking/Rural); Ghana Commodity Exchange (Financial Services/Commodity Exchange); Skysat Technologies Ghana Limited (Printing Technology); Supabets Ghana Limited (Gaming); Universal Hospitals Group (Healthcare/Infrastructure), and Vanguard Assurance Company Limited (Insurance).
The topmost Platinum Award was conferred on Total Energies Marketing Ghana Plc. (Oil and Gas Marketing).
