The Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana's 2000 awards will be held on June 16 in Accra, the President of the Institute, Mr Harrison Kofi Abutiate, announced in Accra on Friday.

The event to be held under the theme: "Customer Relationship Management, a Tool for Shaping Corporate Ghana," will reward hard working marketing personnel and institutions that excelled in various fields of endeavour last year.

Mr Abutiate described the theme as relevant because it focuses the attention of Ghanaians on such important issues as quality, time management and value for money, which are necessary for total customer relationship management.

He said the awards have maintained their importance over the years due to transparency and prestige attached to them, adding that the institute will maintain the standards and improve on the categories of awards as well as the selection criteria.

This year, there will be 21 award categories instead of 22 in 1999. The change is the result of a merger of the Product of the year award (Alcoholic) and Product of the year (general categories). The Marketing Oriented Hotel of the year category has also been changed to Hospitality Facility of the year.

Mr Abuatiate said award winners would be selected based on marketing and technological innovation, geographical coverage, public image and societal impact.

He appealed to the public to make their nominations and submit a brief justification on the nominees.

The chairman of the Awards Committee, Mr Francis Kumah, assured the public of its preparedness to ensure a smooth running of the awards.

The Awards categories to be competed for include, Marketing man and woman of the year, Marketing student of the year, Print Media of the year and Radio Advert of the year. Others are Motor Firm of the year, Bank of the year and Hospitality Facility of the year.