Roland Agambire, Chief Executive Officer of the Agams Group of Companies, was at the weekend adjudged the Overall Best Entrepreneur for 2012 for his exceptional contributions towards the country’s socio-economic development.

He was presented with a plaque and decorated at the Third UT Ghana Entrepreneur Awards 2012 ceremony, which was organised in Accra.

Mr Agambire called for investments into research and development to enable Ghanaian entrepreneurs to build innovative products and brands that could compete on the international platform.

He expressed appreciation for the honour bestowed on him.

Mr Rashid Pelpuo, Minister of State at the Presidency in Charge of Public, Private Partnership, noted that the construction of harbours, air ports, roads and energy are priority areas that government would expect partnership from the private sector.

He said government is committed towards the creation of the enabling environment for the private sector to prosper.

Mr Pelpuo added that Government is on course in providing the linkages for small businesses to link up with big businesses for growth.

Mr Peter Jones, British High Commissioner, commended Ghanaians for their entrepreneurial, innovativeness as well as their good leadership skills, adding that the virtues had contributed immensely towards the country’s development.

He urged Government and other partners to support the teeming entrepreneurs in the country for growth and prosperity.

Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, President of the Dominion University College, stressed that content in educational syllabuses should be made relevant to the economic structure.

He called on institutions of higher learning to focus on how they could propose ways by which value could be added to the gold and cocoa sectors.

Dr Garbrah expressed surprise that many a Government announced the number of jobs they had created even though entrepreneurs were those expected to lead in job creation.

He said Governments were expected to create the enabling environment through legislation and good policies for entrepreneurs to create the needed jobs.

Dr Garbrah expressed the hope that entrepreneurs would soon announce the number of jobs they had created.

Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Executive Chairman of Zoomlion and Jospong Group of Companies, who was inducted into the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame for 2012 at the ceremony, said Ghana should harness resources in order to create leverage for socio-economic opportunities in the world.

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 for Best International Entrepreneur; Mr Charles Yao Mensah, Executive Chairman of Myroc Group of Companies for emerging as the Outstanding Entrepreneur Achievement Award, and Mrs Kate Quartey-Papafio, Chief Executive Officer of Reroy Cables Limited was adjudged the Best Woman Entrepreneur.

Mrs Eunice Ogbugo, Chief Executive Officer of Eugo Terrano Limited won the Young Entrepreneur; Mr Nabil Moukarzel, Chairman of the Finatrade Group of Companies emerged winner for the Best Entrepreneur at the Food and Agribusiness Category; Mr Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia, Managing Partner of the Oxford and Beaumont Solicitors, 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.

Others were Mr William Adjovu, Chief Executive Officer of the Liberty Group of Companies, Best Entrepreneur, Banking and Finance category, Mr Rockson Dogbegah, Chairman for the Berock Ventures Limited, Best Entrepreneur, Building and Civil Engineering, Dr Paa Kofi Fynn, Chancellor of Wisconsin International University College, Best Entrepreneur, Education category, Mr Kofi Dadzie, Chief Executive Officer of Rancard Solutions Limited, Best Entrepreneur, Information, Communication Technology category.

The rest were Mr Pak-Wo Shun, Managing Director for Aviation Alliance Limited for Best Airline Industry category; Mr Kwabena Nyarko, Executive Director of Buena Vista Homes Limited for the Real Estate and Property category; Mr Gopal Vasa, Managing Director, M and G Pharmaceutical Limited, for Best Entrepreneur Pharmaceutical Industry category; Dr Wisdom Amegbletor, Chief Executive Officer for New Crystal Health Services Limited, won the Best Health Services category; Mrs Leticia Osafo-Addo, Chief Executive Officer, Processed Food and Spices Limited category, Best Entrepreneur for the Small Scale Industry; Mrs Mireille Hitti, Executive Director of Duraplast Ghana Limited, received the Best Entrepreneur for 2012 Manufacturing Sector category; and Mrs Theresa Ayoade, Executive Director of the Charterhouse Productions Limited received the Best Entrepreneur for 2012, Entertainment and Multimedia category.

Chief Paul Crystal Djirackor, Chief Executive Officer of Crystal TV, received the Special Award for Electronics while both Mr Mahesh Melwani and Mr Ramesh Sadhwani, joint Group Managers of Melcom Group of Companies received the Best Entrepreneur, Trading and Retail category.

The award ceremony was to honour outstanding Ghanaian and non-Ghanaian entrepreneurs for their contribution to supporting economic growth and spurring job creation.

It was on the theme: "Celebrating Entrepreneurship, the Engine of Economic Growth".