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Managing Director of Union Savings and Loans, Philip Oti- Mensah has been awarded by the West African Nobles Forum for his high level of integrity and morals exhibited in his work. He was among 24 high distinguished personalities honoured at the 20th West Africa Nobles Forum and awards night held at Akosombo under the theme: integrity your spring board for success. In a one on one interview with him,he thanked the management and staff of Union for being the reason he is able to perform. "Whether the award goes to an individual or the entire institution, it is an award for all of us because it is a teamwork", he said. The West African Nobles forum identifies and recognizes men and women of with high personal, financial and moral integrity. Philip Oti- Mensah thanked the board of directors, executive management and staff of Union Savings and Loans for their support. Union Savings and Loans is one of the oldest savings and loans in the country. In January 2013 Philip Oti Mensah took over as managing director and has since transformed Union in several ways including strong brand visibility, human resource development and profitability. Below is the speech delivered by Rev. Paul Kofi Fynn on the occasion BEING SPEECH DELIVERED BY REV. (DR) PAUL KOFI FYNN, PRESIDENT WEST AFRICA NOBLES FORUM AT THE 20TH WEST AFRICA NOBLES FORUM CONFERENCE / AWARDS, HELD ON THE 23RD OCTOBER 2014, AT VOLTA HOTEL AKOSOMBO Mr. Chairman, Hon. Minister of Employment, His Royal Highness Nene Drolor Bosso Adamtey I, Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Board Members of the West Africa Nobles Forum, would-be Nobles, Special Invited Guests, men from the inky fraternity, Ladies and Gentlemen. On behalf of the Board of Trustee Members and all the members of the West Africa Nobles Forum, I wish to welcome you all to this august occasion. You are the reason why we are here and we are most grateful to you all, especially, the .Chairman, the Guest of Honour and all the Special Guests, for making us proud by your presence. Mr. Chairman, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, to the uninitiated, the Nobles Forum, is just another group established to enrich it's functions and members. But for those who have followed our activities, annual fora, conferences, investiture of new members and honours across the West Africa States, since it was registered in October 2003 in Ghana, West Africa Nobles Forum (WANF) has been fighting against corruption, corrupt practices and bad governance in the West Africa sub-region. WANF which held the maiden edition of the eminent West Africans Forum in 2003 in Accra Ghana and the second, third and forth editions in Lome, Togo, Accra Ghana and Lagos Nigeria, respectively has over 1,500 Nobles, identified across the sub-region as persons who abhor corrupt practices, are honest, upright and lead righteous lives. The question then arises, who is a Noble? Our defmition of a Noble is anyone with fme personal qualities that people admire; such as courage, humility, honesty and care for others. Integrity has always been our watchword and for this reason, Nobles gathered here today are reminded that Integrity is high moral excellence, honesty and sincerity and may I add, doing what is right because it is a requirement of the Forum. Integrity involves trust and we all want people to trust us. That can only happen if we live by the precepts and the standard of excellence, which we can find in God's word, be you a Christian or a Muslim. It has been said that in the public realm, there are 3 great tests of integrity: Money, Power and Sex. Integrity on personal levels faces challenges in these areas. As Nobles, we need to live in financial and moral integrity because our works in public or private office are tested on the use or misuse of authority. Some of us are meticulous about one area yet seemingly careless regarding others. However, if we are striving' for excellence, as we should all do, we have to come up tops in every area. It is unfortunate that, when we talk about corruption, people look the direction of government only. But the irony is that everyone could be corrupt, the Vice Chancellor, the Mechanic, the Apprentice, the Civil Servant, the Driver, the Journalist, the Engineer, the Lawyer, indeed the high and the low. Region as persons who abhor corrupt practices, are honest, upright and lead righteous lives. The question then arises, who is a Noble? Our defmition of a Noble is anyone with fme personal qualities that people admire; such as courage, humility, honesty and care for others. Integrity has always been our watchword and for this reason, Nobles gathered here today are reminded that Integrity is high moral excellence, honesty and sincerity and may I add, doing what is right because it is a requirement of the Forum. Integrity involves trust and we all want people to trust us. That can only happen if we live by the precepts and the standard of excellence, which we can find in God's word, be you a Christian or a Muslim. It has been said that in the public realm, there are 3 great tests of integrity: Money, Power and Sex. Integrity on personal levels faces challenges in these areas. As Nobles, we need to live in financial and moral integrity because our works in public or private office are tested on the use or misuse of authority. Some of us are meticulous about one area yet seemingly careless regarding others. However, if we are striving' for excellence, as we should all do, we have to come up tops in every area. It is unfortunate that, when we talk about corruption, people look the direction of government only. But the irony is that everyone could be corrupt, the Vice Chancellor, the Mechanic, the Apprentice, the Civil Servant, the Driver, the Journalist, the Engineer, the Lawyer, indeed the high and the low. Joumalists have always beam their searchlights on the President, Ministers, MCEs, DCEs and the likes.These group of people can therefore hardly steal. It is those who are not in government that are most corrupt. So fighting corruption at the top only cannot achieve the desired results. As the Forum moves round the sub-region to identify and recognize men and women of integrity, it is our hope that such honesty would be replicated and emulated by others in the society, believing that it would enhance the ethical behaviour of the people. Tonight, we are here for an end-of-year dinner dance and also to honour about 24 recipients for their very high personal, financial and moral integrity first and foremost, and also, their immense contribution to the growth and economic advancement of their respective countries, indeed the West Africa sub-region. We will also re-launch our Centre; West Africa Centre for Nobility and Stewardship. It is the training Centre of the Forum that will train Entrepreneurs, captains of Industries and businessmen and women who aspire to be leaders in their countries or communities. It is an appendage of the Forum and your financial support in this regard, will go a long way to enhance our operations. So we urge you to support us generously. Also the Forum will later, this evening decorate HRM Nene Drolor Bosso Adamtey I, and the DG of GBC, Dr. Albert Don-Chebe for their larger role in projecting positively their country Ghana, and Africa to the world. Last but not the lest, our T'shirts will be on sale so try and purchase one. We do this to raise money for the Regional Secretariat.