Founder-Chairman of an indigenous Ghanaian company, First Sky Group of Companies’ boss, Mr. Eric Seddy Kutortse, has been adjudged the best “Group Chairman of The Year 2016,” for his self-established and remarkable contributions to Ghana’s economy.

The affable businessman was among a total of thirty-eight business administrators and owners honored at the 7th Ghana Entrepreneur & Corporate Executive Awards 2017 edition held last Saturday at the Banquet Hall in Accra.

This remarkable recognition, adds up to the chain of similar awards bestowed on First Sky boss and his companies, both nationally and internationally, for his tremendous contributions to his nation’s economy over the years, since the establishment of the companies.

Mr. Seddy Kutortse, a highly generous philanthropist, emerged the ultimate winner in the highly competitive Group Chairman of the Year category, despite the tall list of equally-distinguished company chairmen in the aforementioned grouping.

His company, the First Sky Group is one of Ghana’s leading and fastest developing enterprises, with subsidiaries such as Fist Sky Construction, First Sky Commodities; Volta Serene Hotel, Frerol Rural Bank, and far-advanced plans to enter the insurance market with incorporation of Serene Insurance Ltd, expected to begin operations soon.

Even though Mr. Seddy Kutortse himself was not personally present at the Saturday event, which was highly attended by high-profile business moguls and government officials, his award was received on his behalf by his representatives led by the company’s General Manager, Mr. John Awate accompanied by Mr. Samuel Mensah who is Administrator; Mr. William Kinnah, Projects Coordinator; Mrs. Victoria Boateng, Finance Manager – in-charge of Commodities and Ms. Rhoda Ashiabi, the Personal Assistance (P.A) to the Group Chairman.

Mr. Seddy Kutortse is endowed with 15years of leadership and entrepreneurial experience, with remarkable contribution to the growth of Ghana’s economy, job-creation and wellbeing of society.

He stands out, evidently, for recognition as distinctive business-leader of notable innovations, an exceptional entrepreneur and genuine philanthropist.
His Journey So Far

From a very humble beginning, this paper has established that, soon after Mr. Seddy Kutortse has earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Ghana, Legon, he conceived the idea of going into civil work, and began constructing bridges under the registered name First Sky Construction Ltd. But from a small one roomed office, his First Sky Construction Ltd had grown to assume a group status.

With commencement of operation in the year 2002, with a stuff population of only three, the group’s currently have a staff strength of over thousand five hundred (1,500), with an ultramodern office complex, called First Sky Towers situated in Tema, Community 25 in the Greater Accra Region.

Presently, his first-born company, the First Sky Construction Ltd is now classified as under categories A1 B1, an indication of the company’s track record of consistently delivering projects, providing value-added construction and service skills to customers, with quality, efficiency and reliability as vital.

From the Construction sector to the hospitality sector with the emergence of the beautiful Volta Serene Hotel, a 4-star facility located in Ho, which is the biggest in the Volta Region for now, and has won several awards, both locally and internationally.

Similarly, ‘Chairman’ as he is affectionately called, Mr. Seddy Kutortse’s ventured into the commodities business by giving birth to First Sky Commodities, which is into produce buying of cocoa beans, with a long-term plan of setting up cocoa processing plant to process the beans here in Ghana.

Philanthropic Gestures

Whist many would have used their wealth for acquiring luxuries for themselves and immediate families, the First Sky boss come across as one individual whose kindness has impacted Ghanaian lives, largely making lives brighter for the needy and less privileged persons in society, as he never failed to heed to their cries as a result of deprivations.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), his conglomerate, First Sky Group has a policy which is more sympathetic toward supporting social and religious courses under which it has assisted many individuals and organizations.

These ranges from construction of 50-seater ultramodern and well-equipped Information Communication Technology (ICT) Centres; offering full scholarship to over 50 Senior High School (SHS) students annually, from his alma mater; paying in full, hospital bills for all patients at the Renal Dialysis Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital - by making treatment of the kidney diseases free of charge at the facility, among others.

The First Sky Group also recently donated five brand new Toyota Land Cruiser and a Pick-up Truck to the Assemblies of God Church, Ghana, for its missionary works to assist spread the Gospel.

That is not all, the company led by the Chairman further presented 15 set of musical instruments to churches across the country and handed over new sixty (60) church buildings with a seating capacity of 450-650 worshippers, to the Assemblies of God Church, 30 each to the Eastern and Volta Regions. He also provided several descent houses for retired Ministers of the Church.

Others Awardees

Other awardees of the Saturday function included the Founder and President of Groupe Ideal, Nii Kotei Dzani who has been named as the Overall Best Entrepreneur for 2016.

Some of the Managers awarded as Corporate Executives were the CEO of MTN Ghana, Ebenezer Twum Asante; CEO of OmniBank, Philip Oti Mensah; Group CEO of CDH Financial Holdings, Emmanuel Adu-Sarkodie, as well as, CEO of Databank Group, Kojo Addae-Mensah.

Other entrepreneur award winners included; Founder and President of Groupe Ideal, Nii Kotei Dzani; CEO of Rigworld International Services, Dr. Kofi Amoa-Abban as well as Group President for McOttley Holdings, Richard Dugan.
Meanwhile six women, including Managing Director of Nestle Ghana, Freda Duplan; CEO of West Blue Valentina Mintah; CEO of HomeFoods production & cannery limited, Felicia Twumasi as well as CEO of Western Publications, Gina Blay were also honored as part of the distinguished entrepreneurs.