2019 Africa Security and Safety Awards, Expo slated for Accra

Mr. Cephas Adjei Mensah, Deputy Director, Ministry of Aviation has on behalf of the Minister for Aviation, Hon. Joseph Kofi Adda inaugurated the National Planning Committee for the 2019 Africa Security and Safety Awards (ASAS Awards) and Expo.

He said the Hon. Minister extended his warmest greetings to CSDS Africa and D7 Security Limited, organizers of the event for their initiative in staging the ASAS Awards. He said it was the vision of the Ministry to make Ghana an aviation hub within the West Africa Sub-Region and safety and security was a priority for the sector.

He reiterated that in April 2018, the Ministry hosted the Sub-Saharan Africa Aviation Security Conference in collaboration with the UK Department for Transport to showcase new trends in global aviation security and how sovereign states can deal with them; in that regard indicated the upcoming 2019 ASAS Awards and Expo was therefore in order. He recalled that a few weeks ago at a high-level meeting with a team from CSDS Africa, the Hon. Minister shared his thoughts with the team on how to make the event successful and assured the National Planning Committee of his fullest support.

The Chairman of the National Planning Committee, Mr. Osei Bonsu Dickson, said the 2020 and 2021 edition of the event will be hosted by South Africa and Kenya respectively.

Speaking on behalf of Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah, Minister for National Security, Col. Ababio Serebour, Chief Director of the Ministry for National Security said both the Ministries of Aviation and the Ministry for National Security found it beneficial to partner with and support the event organizers, CSDS Africa and D7 Security Limited to position Ghana appropriately on the international security and safety map in the areas including aviation security, industrial safety, national security, financial, personal, cyber and maritime security among others.

He explained that the 2019 ASAS Awards and Expo was in line with the Government’s vision of a Ghana beyond aid, and would provide a platform to prove local capacity, enhance investment, and facilitate exchange of ideas.

Speaking to reporters, Ms. Esther Appiah, co-chair of CSDS Africa and a member of the National Security Council said socio-economic activities held the answer to economic challenges facing the country, and that the ASAS Expo would bring together industry key players, investors, visitors and other stakeholders locally and internationally. Further, the Awards will enable the continent to recognize and honour deserving individuals and organizations.

The Very Reverend Father Andrew Campbell who commissioned the members of the National Planning Committee encouraged the organizers to go beyond borders and work with a deep sense of commitment and purpose.

Participants present included Phil Heyl, U.S. Government Advisor to the Security Governance Initiative (SGI); Ms. Rosevera Nsiah, PRO for Ghana Maritime Authority; Mr. Gabriel Kwaku Owusu, former Managing Director of Ghana Airways; Mr. Kingsley Sarkodie, HR Director, Sanford; Dr Angela Lamptey, University of Ghana; Dr Adjei Addison, CEO of D7 Security Limited; various members from the Association of Private Security Organizations of Ghana (APSOG) and Safety Professionals, various media organizations including GTV, Metro Tv and the Presidential Press Corps