Entrepreneurs to receive honours

The award is being organised by Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana, with UT Bank as the main title sponsor. It is also supported by the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Business and Financial Times, Entrepreneur Magazine, Afrodan Ltd and Anointed Electricals Engineering Services.

The Founder and President of Entrepreneurs Foundation, Mr Sam Ato Gaisie, told the Daily Graphic in Accra that this year’s awards celebration was on the theme: “Celebrating Entrepreneurship, the engine of economic growth.”

 He named other nominated entrepreneurs as Mrs Kate Quartey-Papafio, the CEO of Reroy Cables Ltd; Ms Eunice Ogbugo, the CEO of Eugo Terrano Ltd; Mrs Ellen Hagan, CEO of L'aine Services Ltd and Mr Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia, the Managing Partner, Oxford & Beaumont Solicitors.

Mr Gaisie said the list also included Mr Mike Nyinaku, CEO, Beige Village Golf Resort & Spa Ltd; Mr Jihad Hijazi, Managing Director, Auto Plaza Ltd and Ms Mireille Hitti, Executive Director, Duraplast Ghana Ltd.

He also mentioned Mr Kwabena Nyarko, CEO of Buena Vista Homes Ltd; Dr Paul Kofi Fynn, Chancellor, Wisconsin International University College; Mr Ramesh M. Sadhwani & Mr Mahesh A. Melwani, Joint Group Managing Director,  Melcom Group; Mr Gopal Vasu, Managing Director, M&G Pharmaceuticals Ltd; Dr Wisdom Amegbletor, CEO, New Crystal Health Services Ltd; Chief Paul Crystal Djirackor, CEO, Crystal TV and Mr Kofi Mangesi, CEO, C10 Business World Ltd.

The rest of the nominees are Mr Kofi Dadzie, CEO, Rancard Solutions; Mrs Theresa Ayoade, Executive Director, Charterhouse Productions; Mr Pak-Wo Shum, Managing Director, Aviation Alliance;  Mr Tonyi Senayah, CEO, Horseman Shoes; Mrs Leticia Osafo-Addo, CEO, Processed Food & Spices Ltd and Prof. Edmund Delle, CEO, Rabito Health Services Ltd.

The nominees would be competing in categories such as the Overall Best Entrepreneur of the Year 2012, Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, Young Entrepreneur, Lifetime Entrepreneur, International Entrepreneur, Outstanding Entrepreneur, Special Entrepreneur, Woman Entrepreneur and Most Promising Entrepreneur.

Other categories are Corporate Business, ICT, Financial, Manufacturing ,Small Scale Industry, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Electronic and Print Media, Entertainment, Education and Agribusiness.

Others are Transport and Logistics, Hospitality & Tourism, Travel and Tours, Property and Real Estate Development, Building and Civil Engineering and Trading and Retailing.

Mr Gaisie spelt out the key objectives of the awards as to recognise and reward the best entrepreneurs in the Ghanaian business community for their contribution to supporting economic growth and spurring job creation.

The awards are open to all entrepreneurs, Ghanaian or non-Ghanaian, who have been leading their organisations for over three years with demonstrable improvements in size, market share, sales and increase in growth.

The judging panel will be looking for entrepreneurial spirit, vision and innovation, financial performance and growth, personal integrity and commitment, strategic and marketing involvement and proven involvement in corporate social responsibility.

UT Ghana Entrepreneurs Awards 2012 is the third in the series which have so far honoured some of the prominent Ghanaian entrepreneurs, including the CEO of UT Bank, Prince Kofi Amoabeng and the Executive Chairman of Zoomlion Group, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, who won the Overall Best Entrepreneur in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Story by Samuel Doe Ablordeppey