Some thirteen individuals and organisations have been recognised for their immense contribution to the port and shipping industry at the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) Tema branch maiden corporate heads soiree and awards night in Tema.
Some of the awardees included General Manager-Marketing and Corporate affairs, GPHA, Esther Gyebi-Donkor, who won the Outstanding Corporate Support Award.
Icon of The Year – Female category, went to Christiana Odi Adjei; and Tema Sector Commander-Customs, Emmanuel Gilbert Ohene, won Icon of The Year -Male category.
Special Industry Recognition Awards went to Abena Serwaa Opoku Ofosu, Marketing and Public Affairs Manager-Port Tema, as well Rosemary Parker Addo and Esther Amekudzi-Customs Division, GRA. Industry Professional of The Year went to Dr. Desmond Bugbilla; and the Supply Chain and Logistics Reforms award went to William Abraham Turkson.
The Technology Partner of The Year award went to Ghana Link Network Services; and the Safety Excellence award went to Meridian Port Services while the Government Relations Achievement award went to GRA-Tema Collection; the Optimal Cargo Release Efficiency Award was grabbed by Maersk Ghana Limited, and Upstream Logistics Provider of The Year went to Consolidated Shipping Agencies.
Two of the awardees spoke to Eye on Port.
“This recognition is dedicated to the entire team that assisted in the ICUMS roll-out and continue to offer support in ensuring that the project continues working to optimum capacity,” said Deputy Commissioner-Customs and Chairman-ICUMS Implementation Committee, Emmanuel Ohene.
“I feel really thankful to God first, and then to the Ghana Institute of freight forwarders because they are our clients. We work together. When they are in business, Customs, GRA is also in business; so, we’ve worked very closely throughout the year and I believe they know what both of us have achieved. Hence, I dedicate the award that was given not only to GRA but also the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders and all the stakeholders,” added Tema Sector Commander, Christiana Odi Adjei.
Johnny Mantey is Chairman-Tema branch, GIFF. He explained that: “We have discovered that most of our people are bending over backwards and doing extremely well. Again, we’ve recognised that there are synergies between our members. Formerly, you would hardly find a one member telling another to help out in a certain business; but now we collaborate and work. We’ve also recognised that most of our members are doing serious business – going around the world to bring business into town. This awards programme is just a testament to what members have been doing over the years and not had any recognition for it.”
