Accra, April 23, GNA - Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zoomlion Limited, was at the week-end adjudged the Overall Best Entrepreneur for 2011.

He was among 30 prominent Ghanaian and Foreign resident entrepreneurs honoured at the Second Ghana Entrepreneur Awards in Accra.

Other award winners were, Mr Ramcharnd Udharam Mohinani, Chairman ,Mohinani Group of Companies, Lifetime Entrepreneur Achievement Award, Sir Sam Jonah, Executive Chairman Jonah Capital Ghana and South Africa, Best Ghanaian International Entrepreneur Award, Mr Bhagwan Khubchandani, Chairman Melcom Group of Companies, Special Entrepreneur Achievement Award, Dr Theresa Oppong-Beeko, CEO, Manet Group of Companies, Best Woman Entrepreneur Award, Dr Kwaku Frimpong, CEO, Champion Divine Clinic, Outstanding Entrepreneur Achievement Award, Mr Mike Nyinaku, Founder & CEO, Beige Group of Companies, Best Young Entrepreneur Award .

The rest were, Mr Salem Kalmoni, CEO,Japan Motors Group of Companies, Best Serial Entrepreneur Award ,Mr James Ebo Whyte, CEO, Roverman Productions, Most-Promising Entrepreneur Award, Mr William Ato Essien, CEO, First Capital Plus Savings and Loans Ltd, Best Entrepreneur Banking & Finance Award, Mr Kimathi Mawuse Dake, CEO, Jescan Constructions Ltd, Best Entrepreneur Building & Civil Engineering Award, Reverend Professor Kingsley E. Larbi, President & CEO, Regent University College of Science and Technology, Best Entrepreneur Education Award, Dr Fawzi Wolley, CEO, Kwatsons Group of Companies and Max Mart Shopping Mall, Best Entrepreneur Trading & Retailing Award 2011 Mr Macdonald Vasnani, CEO, Consolidated Shipping Agencies Ltd, Best Entrepreneur Transport & Logistics Award, Dr Felix Kwaku Anyah, CEO, Holy Trinity Medical & Spa Centre, Best Entrepreneur in Health Services Award, Mr Samuel Amo Tobbin, CEO, Tobinco Pharmaceutical Group of Companies, Best Entrepreneur in Pharmaceuticals Industry Award, Mr Herman Chinery-Hesse, Executive Chairman, SoftTribe Ltd & BSL Ghana Ltd, Best Entrepreneur Information Communications Technology Award , Mr Yonny Emmanuel Kulendi, Esq, Managing Solicitor, Kulendi @ Law, Best Entrepreneur Professional Award, Mr Kennedy Okosun, Chairman, KRIF Ghana Ltd &The Stationery Depot, Best Entrepreneur Office Suppliers & Stationery Award.

The rest were; Mr Isaac Tetteh, CEO,T.T Brothers Ltd, Best Entrepreneur Food & Beverage Award, Mr Sydney Baeta CEO, Expertravel-HRG Ghana ,Best Entrepreneur Travel & Tourism Award , Mr Stephen Osei Akoto, CEO, MPlaza & Mariset Hotels, Best Entrepreneur Hospitality Industry Award, Mrs Edith Dankwa, Executive Director, Business & Financial Times Ltd, Best Entrepreneur Print Media Award, Mr Talal Fatal, CEO, Global Village Group Best Entrepreneur Electronic Media Award, Mr Edward Boateng, Executive Chairman, Global Media Alliance & Silverbird Entertainment Ghana, Best Entrepreneur Media Communication & Entertainment Award, Mr Magnus Nunoo CEO, Magvlyn Industries Ltd, Best Entrepreneur Manufacturing Industry Award,Mr John Daniel Otoo, CEO, Capital 02 Natural Health Company Ltd, Best Entrepreneur in Herbal Services Award, Chief Yaw Kumey, CEO,Y. Kumey International Group Limited, Commercial & Property Development Award and Nana Odeneho Kyeremanteng Executive Chairman, Comet Properties, Best Entrepreneur Real Estate Development Award .

The Ghana Entrepreneur Awards instituted last year was aimed at honouring outstanding Ghanaian and foreign resident entrepreneurs for their contribution to economic growth and job creation in the country.

The initiative was to reward the capabilities of entrepreneurs running Small and Medium Enterprises, to encourage more people to get into entrepreneurship, as well as support existing entrepreneurs in creating jobs.

In addition, it would increase trade in the country and promote innovation, by taking a cue from the development experience of countries like, USA, China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and India where Small and Medium Enterprises have been the backbone of their economies.

This year's event on the theme: ''Unleashing Entrepreneurial Capabilities To Meet The Global Challenges Of The 21st Century,' was jointly organised by Entrepreneur Foundation of Ghana (EFG), Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, and National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mr Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, who represented Vice President John Dramani Mahama, expressed government's willingness to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship among the youth.

He said an effective and active collaboration between companies, the universities and polytechnics to provide entrepreneurial clinics would help whip the interest of the youth in self-employment and creation of companies.

'Most students graduate with the set mind to work only in big companies. Some of them can become successful entrepreneurs with the right paradigm shift, and mentoring from renowned entrepreneurs.'

Mr Afriyie-Ankrah called on well endowed companies and established organisations to support the youth by offering them a percentage of their contracts and assist them with funds, experience and exposure.

Mr Sam Ato Gaisie, Chief Executive Officer of Entrepreneur Foundation of Ghana encouraged the youth to take up entrepreneurship to develop themselves and create jobs for others.

He asked Ghanaian entrepreneurs to strive to reach the top in the 21st Century through joint partnership and other forms of capital to compete with other countries.

Mr Gaisie appealed to institutions to support the foundation in honouring prominent entrepreneurs in the country.

The maiden entrepreneur awards held last year, Prince Kofi Amoabeng, CEO of UT Bank was adjudged the Best Entrepreneur for 2010.

GNA