- as businesses, leaders honoured at 5th HESS Awards
Government is fast-tracking initiatives to enhance workplace safety, aiming to maximise efficiency in the nation’s workforce, according Special Advisor to the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Oliver Boachie.
In remarks during the Health, Environment, Safety and Security Awards (HESS) 5th edition, he intimated that the efforts will place particular emphasis on the growing sphere of remote work.
At the event, which was under the theme ‘Building a sustainable future of work through Health, Environment, Safety, and Security’, he said: “Workplace safety is a fundamental right of every employee… To address this issue, government is ramping up efforts to guarantee oversight institutions are strengthened to ensure compliance with safety regulations and promote occupational safety. These institutions, which are shortly to have a centralised command, will continue to conduct regular inspections, provide training programme’ss on occupational safety, and collaborate with industry associations to develop sector-specific safety guidelines”.
With recent data revealing that workplace accidents have been on the ascendancy in recent times, perhaps due to increased reporting of these incidents, Mr. Boachie added that the state is also strengthening legal frameworks to hold employers accountable for providing a safe and secure working environment.
“This alarming trend not only leads to human suffering for workers and their families, but also hampers productivity and economic growth. To reinforce our commitment, we are also strengthening the legal framework to hold employers accountable for providing a safe and secure working environment. We will continue to prioritise safety measures, enforce regulations and cultivate a culture of safety-consciousness to mitigate these risks,” he noted.
Director for Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Hamidu Adakurugu – representing the sector-minister Ignatius Baffour, stressed the need to raise awareness among businesses regarding workplace health, environment, safety and security issues, as they play a vital role in fostering a sustainable safety and health culture.
He said many businesses perceive safety and health as a mere matter of compliance rather than means to establish standards, resulting in a concerning number of work-related injuries and accidents over the years.
To address this, he emphasised the continuous strengthening of occupational safety and health management systems (OSHE) interventions to enhance safety and health in the workplace. “Ensuring OSHE will ensure that recent recurrent disasters such as fire outbreaks, gas explosions and road accidents are curtailed to the barest minimum. We must continue to place a high premium on human lives and celebrate individuals and corporate organisations which have demonstrated their capacity and willingness to protect lives,” Mr. Adakurugu added.
This comes as recent studies show that workplace-related health issues account for a significant portion of the global fatality-burden, with nearly 2.8 million workers losing their lives each year due to occupational accidents and diseases. An additional 374 million workers suffer from non-fatal occupational accidents.
The Events Director for HESS Awards, Isaac Adu-Gyamfi, expressed that the event’s purpose extends beyond merely acknowledging achievements, emphasising the goal of creating a significant impact. “Our gathering is not merely about receiving; it is about our duty to create a sustainable, fair and just world that enables every individual to lead a healthy and meaningful life,” he noted.
Awards
This year’s HESS Awards covered a broad spectrum of companies and individuals from various regions of the country. Alongside the primary awards, several special recognition awards were presented to individuals who made noteworthy contributions to the HESS sector.
Bui Power Authority emerged as the most distinguished winner, securing a total of six awards. The utility service provider received accolades for its exceptional achievements, including Best Company in Fire Safety and Security Management Practices; HESS Company of the Year; HESS Team of the Year; and the Sustainability and Operational Excellence Award. Additionally, the company’s CEO and another executive were honoured with individual awards.
Full list of award winners
Community Involvement Hospital/Clinic, St. John’s Hospital & Fertility Centre; Customer Safety and Security Management Practices, Fidelity Bank Ghana; Eco-Friendly Product Manufacturing/Supply, Poly Tanks Ghana; Employee Safety and Security Management, Access Bank Ghana; Environmental Management Practices, Wilmar Africa; Fire Safety and Security Management Practices, Bui Power Authority; Health & Safety Campaign, African Consumer Product; Health and Safety Management Practices, Interplast; HESS Compliance, Reporting & Monitoring, Blue Ocean Investments; and Warehouse Safety and Security Management, Wilmar Africa.
On-Site Safety Awareness and Communication, Blue Ocean Investments; Process Safety & Quality Management Practices, Masco Foods (KFC); Product Safety & Quality Management Practices, Interplast; Data Security Management Practices, Access Bank Ghana; Employee Health and Wellbeing Initiatives Fidelity Bank Ghana; Construction Safety Company, Mayfair Estates; CSR Excellence Award, AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine; Employee Empowerment Excellence Award, FBN Bank Ghana; Food Facility Excellence Award (Restaurant), Masco Foods (KFC); Food Facility Excellence Award (Catering Services), Extrail Support Services; Food Safety Company (Catering Services), Extrail Support Services; and Healthcare Facility Excellence (Hospital), Sam-J Specialist Hospital.
HESS Company of the Year, Bui Power Authority; HESS Team of the Year, Bui Power Authority; Healthcare Facility Excellence (Herbal Clinic), Medimafo Herbal Clinic (Time Daso); HSE Consulting Firm, JIK Management Consultancy Services; Manufacturing Facility Excellence Award, Interplast; Most Outstanding Contribution for Sustainable Development, Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mine; Most Security and Safety-Conscious Company, West Africa Gas Pipeline Co; Patient Safety & Security Excellence, Sam-J Specialist Hospital; Sustainability and Operational Excellence, Bui Power Authority; Educational Facility Excellence, Onua Francis International School; Service Station Facility Excellence, Puma Energy Ghana; Most Outstanding Contribution For Energy Conservation, Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana); Best Company in Quality of Service Delivery, National Ambulance Service; and HESS Operational Stability Improvement Award, Volta Aluminium Company.
Special Judges’ Award
HESS Personality of 2023, Christentus Bangkewa Kuunifaa (Deputy Director, OHS&E, Bui Power Authority); Young Safety Professional Excellence Award 2023, Mr. Emmanual Damoah Nyarkoh (Hse Officer, Drill Masters Africa); HESS Exemplary Leadership Award 2023, Mr. Ishmael Kodzokpo (CEO-JIK Management Consultancy Services); HESS Industry Impact Award 2023 (Herbal & Alternative Healthcare), Dr. Atuahene Boateng Adu Gyamfi (CEO, Medimafo Herbal Clinic – Time Daso); and HESS Industry Impact Award 2023 (Education), Dr. Onua Francis Essel-Okyeahene (CEO-Onua Francis Int. School).
HESS Transformation Leadership Excellence Award, Mr. Daniel Acheampong (CEO-Volta Aluminium Company); HESS Industry Impact Award 2023 (Real Estate), Dr. Noble John Otumfuo Watson (CEO-Mayfair Estates); Leadership Excellence in Integration of HESS, Mr. Ashok R. Mohinani (Executive Director, Mohinani Group); HESS Leadership in Crisis Management & Emergency Response Award Prof. Ahmed Nuhu Zakaria (CEO-National Ambulance Service); HESS CEO of the Year, Mr. Julian K. Opuni (MD-Fidelity Bank Ghana); and HESS Leadership in Sustainability & Environmental Stewardship Award, Hon. Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi (CEO-Bui Power Authority).
