Buy Ghanaian products, says Agambire

Chairman of the Agams Group, Roland Agambire, has enjoined the public to marry the recognition they give to local entrepreneurs with patronage of the products they produce.

He said by doing so, indigenous companies will be strengthened and expanded to generate more jobs, contribute to the country’s economic development, and empower lives of the people to reduce poverty.

“We keep getting awarded for various entrepreneurial achievements, but the same cannot be said in terms of the trust and confidence that the public place in products from our indigenous companies. This, to me, is like making a mockery of local entrepreneurs,” he said on the sidelines of the third UT Ghana Entrepreneur Awards in Accra - where he was named Overall Best Entrepreneur of the Year 2012.

The award ceremony was to honour outstanding Ghanaian and non-Ghanaian entrepreneurs for their contribution to economic growth and job-creation. It had the theme "Celebrating Entrepreneurship, the Engine of Economic Growth".

Mr. Agambire said Rlg, as an indigenous company, continues to introduce high-quality products onto the market - which can compete with most of their kind on the Ghanaian market, but public interest and acceptance of such products have not been encouraging.

Mr. Agambire asked fellow entrepreneurs to be focused and resolute in their endeavour, and invest into research and development, in order to enable indigenous companies churn out competitive products that will meet demands of the international market.

He encouraged the general public, especially young and upcoming entrepreneurs, to be daring and undaunted in their quest to make an impact in their lives and that of others: “As a people, we must always strive to generate wealth because poverty is not a thing to embrace.”

Dr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah, President of Dominion University College, made a case for entrepreneurial skills to be instilled in students at an early stage to fast-track development.

“There is a huge disconnect between the structure of the economy and the kind of students we produce into the system. The educational content should be made to be relevant to the country’s economic structure in order to fast-track growth.

“We need a new generation of entrepreneurs - who should be groomed right from the various stages of the educational ladder to prepare them for entrepreneurial success,” he said.

Mr. Rashid Pelpuo, Minister of State in charge of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), said Government recognises the significant role of entrepreneurs in the development of any economy - mostly in the area of employment creation - and will continue to roll-out policies to sustain their businesses.

Mrs. Eunice Ogbugo, Chief Executive Officer of Eugo Terrano Limited, won the Young Entrepreneur award; Mr. Nabil Moukarzel, Chairman of the Finatrade Group of Companies, emerged winner for the Best Entrepreneur in the Food and Agribusiness category; Mr. Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia, Managing Partner of Oxford and Beaumont Solicitors, won Best Entrepreneur, Legal Services; and Mr. Mike Nyinaku, Chief Executive Officer of Beige Village Golf Resort and Spa, won the Best Entrepreneur, Hospitality and Tourism Industry.

Other award winners included Mr. Saled Fakhry, Chairman of Interplast Ghana Limited, who won the Lifetime Entrepreneurial Achievement; Mr. Brian Maxted, Chief Executive Officer of Kosmos Energy, won Best International Entrepreneur; Mr. Charles Yao Mensah, Executive Chairman of Myroc Group of Companies, won the Outstanding Entrepreneur Achievement Award; and Mrs. Kate Quartey-Papafio, Chief Executive Officer of Reroy Cables Limited, was adjudged the Best Woman Entrepreneur.

Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Executive Chairman of Zoomlion and Jospong Group of Companies, was inducted into the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame for 2012.