A total of 29 institutions, including for-profits and non-profits, and eight individuals were honoured for their contribution and promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at the 2019 edition of the annual Sustainability and Social Investment Awards (SSI).

The ceremony, which came off at the Movenpick Hotel, Accra, was attended by high profile dignitaries including the Cuban Ambassador to Ghana, Pedro Luis Despaigne Gonzalez and endorsed by the Ministries of Education, Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the National Road Safety Commission.

In her address, Dr. Diana Heymann-Adu, Board Chair of the awarding committee, said the purpose of the SSI Awards among others is to celebrate business excellence and innovation in corporate social responsibility and also, to create awareness, encourage companies, CSI/CSR foundations, NGOs and other implementing agencies to deliver high impact CSI/CSR projects that aligns with government’s focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to also adopt multi stakeholder approach that leads to excellent outcomes.

“We see ourselves as helping push the boundaries of what companies can do to help the government and the nation achieve its sustainable development goals. By encouraging companies to increase their sustainability efforts and then manage and report the results, we’re hoping that the greater impact will be measurable.

We believe this event creates the platform to increase the awareness on the importance of the private sector’s role in the attainment of the SDGs and your presence and coverage will give echo to the message,” she added.

This year’s edition, on the theme: ‘Celebrating impact brands and their sustainable legacies’, also saw the launch of the Sustainability Report Magazine, a publication that seeks to focus on the promotion of CSR initiatives.

Winners

Foundations of big companies such as MTN, GNPC, Goldfields Ghana, McDan Group and companies such as Chirano Mines, Nyonkopa Cocoa Buying Company, Opportunity International Savings & Loans, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, and Svani Group picked up more than two awards on the night including gongs for the CEOs and Managing Directors.

The GNPC Foundation walked away with the Best Company in Clean Water Provision Project, Community Support Project, Promoting Arts & Culture and SSI Project of the Year (Education); with MTN Ghana Foundation walking away with the Best Company in Employee Volunteering Initiatives, Partnership for Community Development, Promoting Voluntary Blood Donation, Promoting Workplace Diversity & Inclusion and SSI Team of the Year.

Goldfields Ghana Foundation won Best Company in Community Development & Infrastructure Project, Economic Empowerment, Best Partnership in Community Based Project, SSI Foundation of the Year and SSI Project of the Year (Socio-Economic); while Nyonkopa Cocoa Buying Company won Best Company in Climate Change Education & Mitigation Project, Livelihood Empowerment Project, Supporting Agribusiness and Sustainable Development Project.

Opportunity International Savings & Loans was adjudged the Best Company in Disability Support Project, Promoting Agriculture & Agribusiness, Best Health Awareness Education Programme of the Year with its CEO, Kwame Owusu-Boateng winning the SSI Personality of the Year. Ecobank Ghana won Best Company in Educational Sponsorship Project and Supporting Educational Projects.

Karpowership Ghana won best Company in Educational Sustainability Programme and Providing Educational Facilities; while Zoomlion won Best Company in Environmental Sustainability Project, Providing Sanitation Facilities, and SSI Project of the Year (Environment); with Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans winning Best Company in Promoting Gender Equality, and Women Empowerment.

Mohinani Group walked away with Best Company in Recycling Education & Practices whiles its Executive Director, Ashok R. Mohinanani was honoured with the SSI Sanitation Leadership Award; Access Bank won Best Company in Specialty Healthcare Support Project, and SSI Project of the Year (Health); and Baj Freight & Logistics won Best Company in Youth Development Programme and SSI Special Judges Award for CSR Leadership presented to its CEO, Joseph Biney.

Westblue Consulting’s E-Ananse Library Project was adjudged the Innovative CSR Project of the Year while the company’s founder, Valentina Mintah won SSI Women Empowerment Leadership Award; Svani Group won Best Company in Post Disaster Rehabilitation Support, Supporting Educational Institutions, Supporting Health Institutions & Facilities and the Executive Chairman/CEO, Thomas Svanikier winning the SSI Special Judges Award for SDGS.

Chirano Gold Mines won the Best Company in Skills Development Project, Stakeholder Engagement, Supporting Local Content and the SSI Personality of the Year (Foreign) going to Adriano Sobriera, Vice President & General Manager of the mines; while McDan Foundation won Best Company in Social Enterprising Project, Supporting Sports Development and the Group Chairman & Founder of McDan Group, Dr. Daniel McKorley picking up the SSI Exemplary Leadership Award.

For the individual awards, Best Company in Charitable Given, Advans Ghana Savings. & Loans; Best Company in Project Eradicating Streetism, Wapic Insurance; Best Company in Financial Inclusion Project, Old Mutual Ghana; Best Company in Girl Child Education & Empowerment Project, MainOne Ghana; Best Company in Promoting Good Health & Wellness, Chiropractic & Wellness Centre; and Best Company in Promoting Good Sanitation & Hygiene Practices, Allianz Ghana.

Others are Best Company in Promoting Road Safety, SMT Ghana; Best Company in Supporting Government Institutions, Odotobri Rural Bank; Best Company in Supporting National Projects, Melcom Group; Best Company in Supporting SMEs & Start-Ups, Barclays Bank; Best Company in Youth Empowerment Project, UBA; and Best Company in Good Governance & Transparency in Sustainability Reporting, Facts of Health, Apomudzen.