Sunyani, July 28, GNA - The Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) Group has won the annual inaugural African business of the year and brand of the year awards held in London by the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC).

Organised by IC Publications in association with the CBC, Business Action for Africa and the United Nations Office for Partnerships, the African business awards celebrate the rapidly transforming business landscape in Africa by promoting entrepreneurial excellence, world class best practices in business as well as greater visibility for African brands and companies.

A statement signed by Mawuena Dumor, MTN Corporate Services Executive, said the African Business of the Year Award "recognised companies that have shown outstanding returns and growth rates coupled with innovative working techniques and the development of staff and the community it operates in". "The brand of the year award acknowledges companies that have achieved outstanding brand recognition in the past 12 months, with wide appeal and wider recognition both in Africa and worldwide and is applicable to branding and re-branding exercises." It said an independent panel of judges selected the winners and runners-up from a list of nominees in each of the 16 categories which included the African business of the year and African business leader of the year. Recipients are companies and individuals who have contributed to the development of Africa and raised its profile in the global business community. The awards ceremony formed part of the annual G8 Africa business forum and MTN was nominated along with five other business leaders. Ms. Nozipho January-Bardill, MTN Corporate Affairs Executive, expressed delight about the award and thanked the organisers for the recognition, saying "it's an acknowledgement of the progress the company has made in building our business and our brand over the years". "It's a tribute to our leadership, our staff and all our stakeholders who participate in our business in various ways", she said.