GIFF holds maiden corporate heads Soiree and awards night

The Tema branch of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) has held its maiden corporate heads soiree and awards night in Tema, to reward some individuals and organizations for their immense contribution to the port and shipping industry.

Some of the awardees include the General Manager of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at GPHA, Esther Gyebi-Donkor, who won the Outstanding Corporate Support Award, Icon of The Year Female category went to Christiana Odi Adjei, the Tema Sector Commander of Customs, Emmanuel Gilbert Ohene won the Icon of the Year-male category.

Special Industry Recognition Awards also went to Abena Serwaa Opoku Ofosu, the Marketing and Public Affairs Manager at the Port of Tema as well as Rosemary Parker Addo and Esther Amekudzi of the Customs Division of GRA. Industry Professional of the Year went to Dr. Desmond Bugbilla and the Supply Chain and Logistics Reforms award went to William Abraham Turkson.

The technology Partner of the Year award went to Ghana Link Network Services, the Safety Excellence Award went to Meridian Port Services, the Government Relations Achievement Award went to GRA – Tema Collection, the Optimal Cargo Release Efficiency Award was grabbed by Maersk Ghana Limited, and Upstream Logistics Provider of the Year went to Consolidated Shipping Agencies.

Two of the awardees spoke to Eye on Port.

“This recognition is dedicated to the entire team that assisted in the roll-out of the ICUMS and continues to offer support in ensuring that the project continues to work to optimum capacity,” Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Chairman of the ICUMS Implementation Committee, Emmanuel Ohene said.

I feel really thankful to God first and then to the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders because they are our clients. We work together. When they are in business, Customs, GRA is also in business so we've worked very closely throughout the year so I believe that they know what both of us have achieved and I dedicate the award that was given not only to GRA but to the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders and to all the stakeholders,” the Tema Sector Commander, Christiana Odi Adjei added.

Johnny Mantey is the Chairman of the Tema branch of GIFF. He explained, “we have discovered that most of our guys are bending back and over doing extremely well. Again we've recognized that there are synergies between our members.

Formerly, you would hardly find a member telling another member to help in a certain business but now we collaborate and work. We've also recognized that most of our members are doing serious business around the world to bring business into town. This awards program is just a testament to what members have already been doing over the years and do not get any recognition for it.”