Firms honoured at business, finance excellence awards

Ghanaian business and finance houses have been commended for their steadfastness and ingenuity in the midst of unforeseen economic shocks and global uncertainties. 

The President of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Dr Clement Osei Amoako, gave the commendation at the 17th Ghana Premier Business and Finance Excellence Awards Ceremony held in Accra.

Top Brass Ghana organised the awards, on the theme: “Business and Finance: Responding to the Challenges from Internal and External Pressures”. 

Origin

The Director of Top Brass Ghana, Isaac Dakwa, said the Ghana Premier Business and Finance Excellence Awards scheme had its origin in the Golden Jubilee Business and Finance Excellence Awards which the event organisation was tasked by the National Planning Committee to organise as part of activities to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Ghana’s Independence in 2007.

In a keynote address read on his behalf by Michael Kabutey Caesar, the Chairman of the Tema Region of the chamber, Dr Osei Amoako, expressed concern that in the recent past, the business and finance community had been operating under harsh and difficult conditions characterised by rising energy costs, inconsistent power supply, excessive taxation including levies, charges, fees and high borrowing costs.

That state of affairs rendered Ghanaian businesses uncompetitive on both the domestic and global markets, and required the adoption of strategic resilient measures to remain in business on a sustainable basis.

Dr Osei Amoako, therefore, re-emphasised the commitment of the GNCCI to engage with the government to address urgent challenges facing the sector with the view to creating a conducive business environment to bolster economic growth.

Broad range winners

For his part, the Chairman for the occasion, Nana Dr Baa Wiredu, a former Consultant of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation,  acknowledged the diverse and broad range of businesses selected to receive awards, and commended Top Brass Ghana for a job well done, and for sustaining the awards scheme for almost 20 years.

Among the award winners were Boabemaa Spices Enterprise (Agro-processing/Food Condiments); Amenfiman Rural Bank Plc (Banking/Rural Banking); Atwima Kwanwoma Rural Bank Plc (Banking/Rural Banking); Ayipah Wood Company Limited (Wood Processing/Export Trade); Bill’s Micro-Credit Limited (Financial Services/Micro-Credit); Coconut Grove Regency Hotel (Tourism/Hospitality); and Edward Mensah, Wood and Associates Limited (Insurance Brokerage).

Others

Others are the Ghana Union Assurance Limited (Insurance/Non-Life); M&G Pharmaceuticals Limited (Healthcare/Pharmaceuticals); Svani Group Limited (Transportation/Automobile Sales and Servicing); Tang Palace Hotel (Tourism/Hospitality) and Total Energies Marketing Ghana Limited (Energy/Oil Marketing).

Special awards were granted to Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) (International Trade Promotion and Facilitation); the Ghana Water Limited (Utility Services/Water Supply) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (Investment Funding).

Three distinguished and enterprising personalities: the Chief Executive of GEPA, Osafohene Dr Afua Asabea Asare, the Executive Chairman of Svani Group, Thomas Svanikier, and the Chief Executive of M&G Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Gopal Vasu, were decorated with Business Leaders awards.

The topmost Platinum Award was conferred on Enterprise Insurance Company Limited which celebrated its centenary anniversary this year, having commenced operations in the Gold Coast in 1924.