The first Western Regional Corporate Awards Night aimed at motivating business entities operating in the region to honour their social responsibility to communities within their catchment areas took place in Takoradi over the weekend.
The ceremony which was organized by the Sekondi-Takoradi chapter of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry was the brain-child of Ato Van-Ess, Chief Executive Officer of Eff-Ess Company, a Takoradi-based Consultancy and Pharmaceutical firm.
Five giant companies namely Goldfields Ghana Limited, Volta River Authority, Ghana Rubber Estates Limited, Samatex Timbers and Norpalm Ghana Limited, were honoured at the ceremony which was attended by the business community and hundreds of people from all walks of life.
The Omanhene of Takoradi, Nana Bosumakora, also graced the occasion. Each of the award winning companies received a shield and a citation for enhancing the standard of living of people in their catchment areas.
The various security services were also given a pat on the shoulder for maintaining peaceful atmosphere conducive for the operation of businesses.
A number of State and Private Owned Enterprises like the Cornerstone Printing Press Limited, Macro Shipping and Logistics Limited and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority who sponsored the ceremony were also given certificates in appreciation for their wonderful support.
In an address the national president of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Wilson Atta-Krofa, who presided over the Night, admonished businessmen to take advantage of Ghana's improved economy to revive their dying companies.
He said the current low exchange rate for the importation of goods, reduction in interest rates at the banks and low level of inflation were all positive signals which be utilized by the business community for the growth of businesses in the country.
Atta-Krofa noted that recent oil discovery in the Western Region as well as plans by the government to improve upon the western rail lines present a higher opportunity for businessmen in the region to expand their businesses.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry national president recalled that Ghana as a nation has gone through a chequered history as far as her economy is concerned with the business community experiencing setbacks in business.
He said Ghanaian businessmen and women who suffered losses in the past as a result of the collapse of their businesses have every cause to smile under the NPP administration since the economy has now turned around.
The regional chairman of the Chamber, Nana Kaku Bulu, had earlier on stressed on the rationale behind the Awards Night was to encourage healthy competition among Corporate bodies in the region, create public awareness of the best performing companies and also re-affirm the Chamber"s to the Private Sector.
It was to this end that he entreated all business entities to make corporate social responsibility a priority on their year planners.
The Presiding Member of the Shama-Ahanta -East Metropolitan Assembly, Edwin Philips, in a brief remark called for honesty on the part of businessmen to enable their businesses thrive.
By Yaaba Yamikeh
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