<<Print>>

The Chief Executive of Ghanaian Phone Company RLG Mr Roland Agambire, was on Saturday adjudged the overall best Entrepreneur for the year 2012. This was at the 3rd Ghana Entrepreneur Awards Gala organised by the Ghana Entrepreneur Foundation, in conjunction with UT Bank and Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Awards are to identify, recognise and honour Ghanaian and Non Ghanaian permanent resident Entrepreneurs who have exhibited superior performance that has helped them emerge out of poverty, create jobs and add value to society. Mr Agambire called for investments into research and development to enable Ghanaian entrepreneurs to build innovative products and brands that could compete on the international platform.He expressed appreciation for the honour bestowed on him. Minister of State at the Presidency in Charge of Public, Private Partnership, Mr Rashid Pelpuo, noted that the construction of harbours, air ports, roads and energy are priority areas that Government would expect partnership from the private sector. He said Government is committed towards the creation of the enabling environment for the private sector to prosper. Mr Pelpuo added that Government is on course in providing the linkages for small businesses to link up with big businesses for growth. Mr Peter Jones, British High Commissioner, commended Ghanaians for their entrepreneurial, innovativeness as well as their good leadership skills, adding that the virtues had contributed immensely towards the country�s development. He urged Government and other partners to support the teeming entrepreneurs in the country for growth and prosperity. President of the Dominion University College, Dr Ekwow Spio Garbrah, said content in educational syllabuses should be made relevant to the economic structure. He called on institutions of higher learning to focus on how they could propose ways by which value could be added to the gold and cocoa sectors. Dr Garbrah expressed surprise that many a Government announced the number of jobs they had created even though entrepreneurs were those expected to lead in job creation. He said Governments were expected to create the enabling environment through legislation and good policies for entrepreneurs to create the needed jobs. Dr Garbrah expressed the hope that entrepreneurs would soon announce the number of jobs they had created. Executive Chairman of Zoomlion and Jospong Group of Companies, Mr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, who was inducted into the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame for 2012 at the ceremony, said Ghana should harness resources in order to create leverage for socio-economic opportunities in the world. Other award winners included the Chairman of Interplast Ghana Limited Mr Saled Fakhry, who won the Lifetime Entrepreneurial Achievement; Chief Executive Officer of Kosmos Energy Mr Brian Maxted, for Best International Entrepreneur; the Executive Chairman of Myroc Group of Companies Mr Charles Yao Mensah, for emerging as the Outstanding Entrepreneur Achievement Award, and the Chief Executive Officer of Reroy Cables Limited Mrs Kate Quartey-Papafio, was adjudged the Best Woman Entrepreneur. Chief Executive Officer of Eugo Terrano Limited Mrs Eunice Ogbugo, won the Young Entrepreneur; Chairman of the Finatrade Group of Companies Mr Nabil Moukarzel, emerged winner for the Best Entrepreneur at the Food and Agribusiness Category; Mr Managing Partner of the Oxford and Beaumont Solicitors, Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia, Best Entrepreneur Legal Services, and the Chief Executive Officer of Beige Village Golf Resort and Spa Mr Mike Nyinaku, won the Best Entrepreneur, Hospitality and Tourism Industry. Others were Chief Executive Officer of the Liberty Group of Companies, Mr William Adjovu, Best Entrepreneur, Banking and Finance category, Mr Rockson Dogbegah, Chairman for the Berock Ventures Limited, Best Entrepreneur, Building and Civil Engineering, Dr Paa Kofi Fynn, Chancellor of Wisconsin International University College, Best Entrepreneur, Education category, Mr Kofi Dadzie, Chief Executive Officer of Rancard Solutions Limited, Best Entrepreneur, Information, Communication Technology category. The rest were Mr Pak-Wo Shun, Managing Director for Aviation Alliance Limited for Best Airline Industry category; Mr Kwabena Nyarko, Executive Director of Buena Vista Homes Limited for the Real Estate and Property category; Mr Gopal Vasa, Managing Director, M and G Pharmaceutical Limited, for Best Entrepreneur Pharmaceutical Industry category; Dr Wisdom Amegbletor, Chief Executive Officer for New Crystal Health Services Limited, won the Best Health Services category; Mrs Leticia Osafo-Addo, Chief Executive Officer, Processed Food and Spices Limited category, Best Entrepreneur for the Small Scale Industry; Mrs Mireille Hitti, Executive Director of Duraplast Ghana Limited, received the Best Entrepreneur for 2012 Manufacturing Sector category; and Mrs Theresa Ayoade, Executive Director of the Charterhouse Productions Limited received the Best Entrepreneur for 2012, Entertainment and Multimedia category. Chief Paul Crystal Djirackor, Chief Executive Officer of Crystal TV, received the Special Award for Electronics while both Mr Mahesh Melwani and Mr Ramesh Sadhwani, joint Group Managers of Melcom Group of Companies received the Best Entrepreneur, Trading and Retail category. The award ceremony was to honour outstanding Ghanaian and non-Ghanaian entrepreneurs for their contribution to supporting economic growth and spurring job creation. It was with the theme: "Celebrating Entrepreneurship, the Engine of Economic Growth".