Former President Jerry John Rawlings, was among nine personalities awarded at the Pan African Leadership Summit and Merit Awards (PAMA) 2015 at the British Council Auditorium in Accra over the weekend.

Former President Rawlings who could not attend the function to receive his award, was recognized as “Africa’s Foremost Agent of Change.”

Three of the personalities, one Nigerian and two Ghanaians who were present, received their awards.

Dr (Sir) Ferdinand Ikechukwu Anikwe, Director-General of the Centre for Black Arts and African Civilization Culture (CBAAC), was adjudged “Africa’s Most Outstanding Personality in Arts and Culture.”

Superintendent Cephas Arthur, Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, received the “Excellence in Outstanding Leadership” award, while Victoria Michaels, a model and fashion icon, grabbed “Ghana’s Fashion Modelling Personality of the Year” award.

The PAMA was instituted by the National informer Magazine, to bring together past and present African Leaders, policy makers, giants of industries, top CEOs, outstanding inspirational religious leaders, foreign investors and others, to share ideas, strategies, and create platforms that will instigate the socio-economic development and revival of the continent.

It also honours outstanding Africans, organizations and institutions, in various fields of human endeavour, that have contributed immensely to the growth of Africa and Africans. Apart from of the nine personalities, 12 organizations were also recognized for awards. Four of them were present to receive their awards.

They were Union Savings and Loans Ghana Limited (Ghana’s Most Outstanding SME Development Bank); Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ghana Limited (Ghana’s Most innovative SME Financial Institution); Goldman Capital Micro Finance Ghana Limited (Ghana’s Most Efficient Micro Finance Institution of the Year); and Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (Financial Regulator of the Year).

Speaking at the function, Prince Ike Onwuka-Smarty, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the National Informer, underscored the need for Africa to fashion its own economic models to sustain growth on the continent.

Prince Onwuka-Smarty was of the view that the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises would be the foundation of Africa’s economic stability, if properly guided and harnessed.

In a presentation on “Re-thinking Cultural Pan-Africanism for Africa’s Reconstruction and Development,” Dr Anikwe, Director-General of the Centre for Black Arts and African Civilization, and an award winner, pointed out that the future of Africa must lie in the hands of Africans.

Dr Anikwe said as key to development, Culture must acknowledge the virtues of cultural diversity and respect for individual human rights, and the promotion of sustainable environmental management practices.

He was of the view that with Africans first and foremost developing their various cultures, all other aspects of development would be added unto the continen