Socially responsible and sustainable businesses have received due recognition at the 4th edition of the Sustainability and Social Investment (SSI) Awards.
The event which came off at the Kempinski hotel in Accra saw a congregation of deserving persons to fete, network, review the year in perspective and set the tone for the upcoming year.
This saw top-level performers from various multinational enterprises, NGOs, indigenous SMEs in the public and private sector rewarded for their display of rare tenacity of purpose in their commitment to driving impact, despite the disruptions of the pandemic on business operations, theirs included.
The award scheme, which is endorsed by the Ministry of Education (MoE), National Road Safety Commission among others, has received plaudits of highest-acclaim as it not only rewards the profitability but more importantly, the social impact of businesses institutions and persons, particularly in the localities where they operate.
Speaking on the night, CEO of the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC), Yofi Grant stated that whilst the world is faced with the daunting task of rebooting economies post-pandemic, he is optimistic about development on the African continent as it remains the world’s “next big opportunity” due to a combination of factors including demographic distribution, natural resources and the continent-wide trade bloc.
Addressing the need for conscious inter-party collaborations moving forward, he said: “No country is going to be able to withstand the world that is coming on its own, we all have to do it together. I am so delighted that this evening we are awarding those that foresaw the future and stepped up to look at sustainability as part of their plans.”
Similarly, member of the awarding board, Dr. Diana Heymann-Adu, highlighted the growth in number of participating companies year-on-year as a testament to the credibility of the awards scheme. She added that efforts of the SSI awards have led to tremendous improvement to the scope and scale of the impact of projects undertaken by participating companies. She also said added that it is heartwarming to note that companies are demonstrating increased concern for the welfare of the communities in which they operate.
The night saw the following award given: Best Company In Charitable Giving – Baj Freight & Logistics Ltd; Best Company In Clean Water Provision Project- Volta River Authority; Best Company In Community Development & Infrastructure Project – GNPC Foundation; Best Company In Community Support Project – Olam Ghana – Cashew; Best Company In Disability Support Project – JRA Cosmetics; Best Company In Economic Empowerment – MTN Ghana Foundation; Best Company In Educational Sponsorship Project – GNPC Foundation; Best Company In Educational Sustainability Program – Anglogold Ashanti Ghana; Best Company In Employee Volunteering Initiatives – Vodafone Ghana Foundation; and Best Company In Environmental Sustainability Project – Ecobank Ghana Ltd.
Best Company In Financial Literacy & Inclusion Project – Access Bank Ghana; Best Company In Livelihood Empowerment Project – GNPC Foundation; Best Company In Long-Term Health Support Project -GNPC Foundation; Best Company In Partnership For Community Development – B5 Plus Group Ltd; Best Company In Project Eradicating Streetism – Vodafone Ghana Foundation; Best Company In Project Promoting Arts & Culture – GNPC Foundation; Best Company in Project Promoting & Supporting Agriculture and Agribusiness – Advans Ghana Savings & Loans; Best Company in Project Promoting Good Sanitation & Hygiene Practices – Sinapi Aba Savings & Loans; Best Company In Project Promoting Good Health & Wellness – Kinross Chirano Goldmines; Best Company In Project Promoting & Supporting Stem Education – GNPC Foundation; Best Company In Project Providing Educational Facilities – GNPC Foundation;
Best Company in Supporting National Projects – MTN Ghana Foundation; Best Company In Project Supporting Local Content – Anglogold Ashanti Ghana; Best Company In Promoting Gender Equality – Sinapi Aba Savings & Loans; Best Company In Promoting Voluntary Blood Donation – MTN Ghana Foundation; Best Company In Promoting Workplace Diversity & Inclusion – Kinross Chirano Goldmine; Best Company In Providing Health Facilities – GNPC Foundation; Best Company In Providing Sanitation Facilities – Volta River Authority; Best Company In Quality Healthcare Delivery Project – GNPC Foundation; Best Company In Skills Development Project – Yinson Production West Africa; Best Company In Specialty Healthcare Support Project – Ecobank Ghana Ltd; Best Company In Stakeholder Engagement- Kinross Chirano Gold Mines; Best Company In Supporting Educational Institutions & Projects – Absa Bank Ghana Ltd.
Best Company in Supporting Government Institutions – Unilever Ghana Ltd; Best Company in Supporting Health Institutions & Facilities – Unilever Ghana Ltd; Best Company in Sustainable Development Projects – Anglogold Ashanti Ghana; Best Company In Supporting SME’s & Start-Ups – Absa Bank Ghana Ltd; Best Company In Supporting Sports Development – Yinson Production West Africa; Best Company In Women Empowerment Project – Access Bank Ghana Ltd; Best Company In Youth Development & Empowerment Project – UBA Ghana Ltd; Best Company In Youth Mentorship Project – Yinson Production West Africa; Best Health Awareness Education Program – Facts Of Health; SSI Foundation/Company Of The Year – GNPC Foundation; SSI Health Advocate Of The Year; Ruby Naa Merley Aidoo; SSI Innovative Project Of The Year – Vodafone Gh. Foundation (Homecoming & Birthdaystars); SSI Project Of The Year (Health) – Vodafone Ghana Foundation; SSI Project Of The Year (Education) – GNPC Foundation; SSI Project Of The Year (Environment) – Advans Ghana Savings & Loans; SSI Project Of The Year (Socio-Economic) – Gold Fields Ghana; Sustainability & Operational Excellence Award – Gold Fields Ghana and SSI Team of the Year – Anglogold Ashanti Ghana.
For reactions to COVID-19, there was Most Exemplary COVID-19 Employer of the Year – Gold Fields Ghana; Best COVID-19 Corporate Response Initiative Award – Wilmar Africa Ltd; Best Media House in COVID-19 Awareness Education – Despite Media (United TV); Best COVID-19 Media House Response Award – Atinka Media Village; Best COVID-19 Healthcare Response Initiative Award -Vodafone Ghana Foundation; Best COVID-19 Educational Response Initiative Award – Anglogold Ashanti Ghana; Best Company in COVID-19 Community Support Project – Gold Fields Ghana; Best Company in COVID-19 Institutional Support Project – GNPC Foundation.
Special Judges Awards went for Best COVID-19 Employee Volunteering Initiative – MTN Ghana; Best media organization for SSI Reporting – Graphic Communications Group; Best COVID-19 Awareness Campaign – MTN Ghana and SSI SDG’s Leadership Award – Chirano Gold Mines.
Furthermore, there were special awards for SSI CEO of the Year – Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa; SSI Personality of the Year – Robert Kuzoe; SSI Emerging Personality of the Year – Rev. Amaris Nana Perbi; SSI Foreign Personality of the Year – Olivier Bailly-Bechet; SSI STEM Leadership Award- Patricia Obo-Nai; and SSI Disability Support Leadership Award – Jane R. Ahadzi.
