The Ghana Business Summit, exhibition and awards is a flagship event focused on bringing together top players in business and industry to set standards, showcase innovations, celebrate excellence, discuss issues of national importance within the context of national economic transformation.

Businesses provide the needed jobs, skills training, skills transfer, innovation, managerial training, products and services, taxes and revenues that are essential to the health of the economy of Ghana. It is in this light that the private sector is often described as the engine of growth in Ghana.

The Business Forum will be anchored on the ten point agenda for economic transformation as defined by the Government in the blueprint released by the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Ghana in 2017.

Discussions at the Forum will be situated within this context so that participants can provide feedback to Government of Ghana on ways to improve performance on realising the said business development objectives and in tracking progress to support the President in *moving Ghana Beyond Aid.

As the maiden edition, the theme chosen is "Improving Business Standards and Good Corporate Governance in Ghana".

This is informed by the need to support businesses in the country to improve quality standards for their goods, products and services in line with International Standards enforced by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and to effectively empower business leaders to be at the forefront of promoting sound management practice and good corporate governance in their boardrooms to deliver business growth across all sectors in Ghana.

The exhibition promises to be the biggest gathering of industry and business in Ghana with over 60 companies scheduled to showcase their products and services to over 2000 patrons within the country.

In order to provide exhibitors with utmost exposure, exhibition booths will be located within the summit zone for participants to easily have the opportunity to interact and network with businesses at hand.

There shall be plenary sessions, speeches, breakout sessions, lunch, and coffee break, providing ample time for exhibitors and participants to effectively interact. The event will be climaxed by a classic Awards Night and Dinner.

The Ghana Business Awards is a prestigious initiative that recognises and rewards excellence across all sectors of industry in Ghana.

It provides the platform to recognize individuals and companies that play a significant role in the growth and development of the business sector while recognising the need to dialogue on growth and sustainability among stakeholders.

It is the premier event in Ghana that celebrates achievement, innovation and the spirit of enterprise within the private sector of Ghana in partnership with major public sector institutions. The special Guest of honour for the summit is the Minister of Business Development.

The award categories have been classified into three, the General, Industry specific and Special Recognitions.

The general categories includes, Group of companies of the year, Promising Group of companies of the year, Company of the Year, Promising Company of the Year, CEO of the Year, Promising CEO of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Promising Entrepreneur of the Year, Social Entrepreneur of the Year, Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility, Excellence in Customer Service Award, Excellence in Procurement Award, Indigenous Company of the Year, Emerging Brand of the Year, Brand of the Year, Excellence In Innovations and Technology, Local Content Award

Industry Specific Awards

The industry specific awards includes Telecom of the Year, Mobile Money Service provider of the Year, Farming Company of the Year, Agro Input Company of the Year, Shipping Company of the Year, Pharmaceutical Company of the Year, Airline of the Year (International), Airline of the Year (Domestic), Finance house of the Year, Savings and Loans Company of the Year, Securities and Investment Company of the Year, Media Organisation of the Year, Oil and Gas Company of the Year (Upstream), Oil and Gas Company of the Year (Downstream), Microfinance Company of the Year, General insurance Company of the Year, Life Insurance Company of the Year, Real Estate Company of the Year, Retail Company of the Year, Hospitality Company of the Year, Government Agency of the Year, Pension Company of the Year, Construction Company of the Year, Health Insurance Company of the Year, Agribusiness Company of the Year, Educational Institution of the Year – Tertiary, Educational Institution of the Year- Professional, Herbal Company of the Year, Security Company of the Year, Sanitation Company of the Year, IT Company of the Year, Beverage/Water Company for the Year, Manufacturing Company of the Year, Logistics Service Provider of the Year, Auto Company of the Year, Project/Heavy Equipment Provider of the Year, Importer of the Year, Mining Company of the Year, Exporter of the Year, Consultancy firm of the Year, Bank of the Year, Government Agency of the Year, Print Company of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Life Insurance Company of the Year.

Special Recognitions

Special recognition includes but not limited to: Life Time Achievement Award, Excellence in Business Award, Woman of Excellence Award, Outstanding Leadership Award, Outstanding Contribution to the Economy.

Interested organisations/individuals who want to submit nominations can visit www.ghanabusinessawards.com/nominations or www.ghanabusinesssummit to register for the summit/exhibition.

The Ghana business summit, exhibition and awards will take place at Kempinski Gold Coast hotel on the 5thof October and it’s brought to you by Graphic Business, Media General and Globe Productions, supported by the Ministry of Business Development. Sponsored by Heritage Bank and Endela logistics