The 3rd edition of the annual Chamber Business Awards, organized by the Ghana National Chamber Of Commerce and Industry was held over the weekend at the Accra International Conference Centre. This year’s edition, held under the theme Digitising the Ghanaian economy for competitive edge in globalized markets, saw 41 awards being conferred on outstanding enterprises and individuals for their performance and conduct in 2018.
Headline performance awards, adjudged by competitive basis, were conferred on 17 enterprises covering the various delineated sectors of activity. They comprised an admixture of renown household names in corporate Ghana such as Barclays Bank (banking), Enterprise Insurance (non-life insurance), SIC Life (life insurance), Japan Motors (automobile dealership), Tobinco Pharmaceuticals (wholesale trading) and Kinapharma (manufacturing); alongside less widely known, but equally exemplary brands, well respected in their respective industries, such as S.K. Boafo Transport and Tours (road transport), Global Cargo and Commodities (logistics), Petroleum Solutions (oil and gas), and Nyonkopa Cocoa Buying Company (agribusiness) among others.
There were three competitive personality awards conferred on Emmanuiel Borkletey Bortey of Charger Ltd (young entrepreneur of the year); Mrs. Janet Anane of Gentle Giants (chamber businesswoman of the year); and Samuel Amo Tobbin of Tobinco Pharmaceuticals (chamber businessman of the year).
Regional wards were conferred on B5 Plus (Tema Chamber); Duri Farms (Wa Chamber); Gella Electrolex Services (Tarkwa Chamber); Gyam Engineering (Cape Coast Chamber); Amansie Rural Bank (Kumasi Chamber); Local Cuisine (Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber); and Frankatson Ltd (Accra Chamber).
Nine special awards were conferred on outstanding personalities for their performance, achievements and conduct in 2018, including three ministers: Dr. Mohammed Awal, Business Develoipment; Alan Kyeremanten, Trade and Industry; and Shirley Botchwey, Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Five special awards wee conferred on corporate entities, these being Nana Abeye Farms, Juaben Rural Bank, Pharmanova, Busac Fund and Ghana Exim Bank, whose chief executive, Lawrence Agyinsam, was also given a special personality award for exceptional leadership in agriculture and export financing.
The special guest of honour for the event, Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in this address, reiterated government’s commitment to digitalizing Ghana’s economy and social framework as well as government’s operations and service delivery. He recounted several initiatives undertaken by the incumbent administration towards using digitization to modernize Ghana, such as digital address system, national ID card issuance, paperless ports and healthcare delivery, as well as land administration record keeping. He also revealed several key imminent initiatives, the most pivotal being the impending Universal QR Code system which will remove the need for points of sale devices to facilitate digital merchant trading transactions and Gh.Gov, an impending one stop shop portal for requesting and receiving all government goods and services.
GNCCI’s President, Nana Dr Appiagyei Bankawoso I affirmed the Chamber’s commitment to improving the fortunes of Ghana’s private sector through several key initiatives such as the establishment of a business dispute arbitration centre, the equipping of the private sector with enhanced corporate governance skills and the provision of key business diagnostic data through several business indexes.
The GNCCI was established in 1850 and over the subsequent 170 years has evolved into a central grouping for Ghana’s private sector. Its awards scheme commenced in 2017 and seeks to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding business and individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the development of the nation and its economy; inspire and promote the entrepreneurial spirit; and unearth the depth of talent that exists in the country by recognizing excellence in corporate management. The awards also seek to promote high professional standards; reward outstanding achievements in the areas of innovation, best practices and the use of technology; and illuminate the vital role of advocacy and networking in the promotion of business.