Mr Ransford Tetteh (middle), the Editor of the Daily Graphic, and Mr Jorge Osorio (right), Group Sales and Marketing Director, Devtraco Company Limited, clicking a button to pick the winner of the Devtraco/Graphic Dream Home Promo. Picture: Maxwell Ocloo

Chainsaw operator wins 1st Graphic/Devtraco home promo

Timothy Ngnenbe Dec - 05 - 2018 , 07:16

Several unsuccessful phone calls were placed to him to break the good news to him, and when 40-year-old Alhassan Fatau finally picked up, he could not believe that by the click of a button, he had become the owner of a two-bedroom house.

Although he had participated in the Devtraco-Graphic dream house promo, he least expected that it was the pathway to a fortune in life.

When the Editor of the Daily Graphic, Mr Ransford Tetteh, and the Group Sales and Marketing Director of Devtraco, Mr Jorge Osorio, stepped forward to click the button to determine the eventual winner of the first house in the Dream Big promo, the hundreds of people who gathered at the Achimota Mall in Accra had their hearts in their mouths.

Each of them waited with bated breath to be named the proud winner, but it was Asamankese-based Fatau whose star shone above all others.
When the dial stopped on his number, the expectant participants were disappointed and dejected.

Dream come true

In contrast, Mr Alhassan, who was not at the event, screamed and shouted "Eiiish, seriously. This is the biggest miracle of my life; I cannot believe this,"when he was told that he had won the $70,000 house.

The father of four who lives in a rented house with his wife, said he saw the advertisement for the promo on television in October this year and started participating in it.

"I never thought this could happen in my life. I live in a rented house and suffered a number of ejections from landlords. I am lost for words," he told the Daily Graphic shortly after he was declared the winner.

“I work with a chainsaw operator by helping to cart lumber to Accra to make a living and to fend for my wife and four children. This miracle will turn our situation around,” he added.

The promo

The Devtraco-Graphic Dream House promo dubbed: "Read and Win," was launched on July 23, this year to reward loyal customers of the company in its 67-year journey in the media industry.

It is a partnership between the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) and Devtraco, a leading real estate entity, with support from Vokacom, an information technology company, and Vodafone Ghana.

Since the promo was launched, scores of readers have received GH¢1,000 daily winnings, with others also winning Samsung and iPhone X mobile phones.

At the draw to determine the winner of the first of two houses today, 11 others walked home with GH¢1,000 each for winning the daily draws, while 10 others were rewarded with Samsung mobile phones, with one also walking home with an iPhone.

Present at the historic event were top officials of the GCGL including the Deputy Editor, Mr Kingsley Inkoom, the Director of Marketing, Mr Franklin Sowah, and the Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Agyei Ayhur.

The Group Sales and Marketing Director of Devtraco, Mr Jorge Osorio, led the delegation of officials to the grand event, while the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vokacom, Nana Osei Afrifa, also led officials from the company.

Goodwill

While commending the thousands of customers of the GCGL for their loyalty to the company’s brands over the last 67 years, Mr Tetteh assured them that the company would continue to deliver quality services for the people.

"It is what our customers put into our business as a company that has kept us going and making strides so they are our lifeblood without which we will not exist. So, we will continue to serve your interest by doing things right," he said.

Mr Tetteh urged the customers to maintain their loyalty to the company, especially by patronising its online application.

"Graphic belongs to you and all of us so let us work together as partners to make it a stronger and greater brand," he added.

Graphic lauded

Mr Osorio lauded the GCGL for its pioneering role in the media industry and for keeping the standards high over the years.

He described the partnership with Devtraco and GCGL as worthwhile and fulfilling.

"Through this partnership, we have given real meaning to our 25-year journey as a real estate entity so we will strengthen this bond to make more impact in the country," he said.

For his part, Nana Afrifa said the partnership for the Dream House promo was not only an opportunity for people to make monetary and material gains but also a giant move to touch and change lives.