Marketing Corporate Ghana

The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG), has a mission to deepen the interest of the marketing profession and that of its members and to ensure excellence in marketing practice in corporate Ghana.

Established in July 1981, under the name Institute of Marketing, Ghana, CIMG has really come a long way. One of its significant achievements is the establishment of an award scheme, known as the National Marketing Award which has been in operation for the past 13 years. The award seeks to create awareness of the marketing concept, promote high professional standards, and stimulate healthy competition among organizations and to ensure improved quality of products and services being offered by businesses. The next award ceremony to be held in Accra is scheduled for May 10, 2003.

Cognisance of the fact that marketing is fundamental to the success of any business, CIMG plays a major role in promoting the marketing profession and encouraging organisations to strive towards maintaining international standards in marketing practice.

In exercising this function, the institute works to promote the study and practice of modern scientific marketing, establish close co-operation among all persons engage in marketing in this country and to educate the general public on marketing concepts and their importance to the country’s economy.

Presently, CIMG is affiliated to the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) UK. It plans to establish similar relations with the America Marketing Association and the Institute of Marketing Management in South Africa.

The institute has a subsidiary called CIMG Consult. This is a consulting unit established to provide innovative client focus marketing and business solutions to enhance the performance of small, medium and large scale organizations. The objective of CIMG Consult is to ensure that businesses overcome obstacles or identify new opportunities and grow.

The services offered by CIMG Consult include carrying out marketing research activities for individuals, charities, governments, NGOs and other institutions. It also draws up business and marketing plans for industries and individuals, organizes seminars and workshops to educate the general public on marketing practice and holds conferences on important national economic issues.

Apart from providing consultancy services, the institute is also engaged in training activities. In this way, CIMG keeps its members abreast of the most developments and techniques that span the basics of marketing through to issues of strategic importance. Over the last 14 years, CIMG has taken the lead in developing the careers of marketing professionals in this country through its unique training programme.

The institute, in addition, takes up various advocacy roles. In October 1991, CIMG established the Ghana School of Marketing to offer professional tuition to students, who wish to study for the CIM, UK examination. The school is run on part-time evening classes basis with the aim of offering people who work during the day the chance to pursue the professional course. The vision of the school is to become a model marketing professional institute, providing top class marketing education.

CIMG also provides a placement service, providing professional, confidential and personalized recruitment services to organizations and institutions. This specialist placement services also assists CIMG corporate members to find suitable staff in all areas of marketing, advertising and sales.

Members are elected into the position of president to lead the association. The current President is Mr. Harrison Kofi Abutiate, who took over from Mr. Adjei Sefah, who served from 1994 to 1998. Mr. Frank Appiah was also the president from 1991 to 1994.

There are seven categories of membership. These are fellows, full members, associate members, and graduate members. Licentiate, honorary and student membership. Currently, the institute has a total membership of over 500 with majority of fellows and members holding very high academic and professional qualifications. Membership grades are conferred according to academic qualifications, job function, level of seniority and practical experience.

The institute has a secretariat manned by an executive secretary who administers the day-to-day affairs under the direction of a council. The governing bodies that help in running the institute are the Board of Patrons, Governing Council and the National Executive.

Since its inception, the institute has been able to carve a positive image through effective contribution towards the creation of marketing awareness and the training of students and businessmen in marketing concepts and practices.