The first Ghana HR Conference and Excellence Awards, organised by HR Focus Magazine and the Institute of Human Resource and Management Practitioners, Ghana (IHRMP), came off at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel on Saturday with MTN, Unilever, and Graphic Communications awarded in different categories.

The event, which was under the theme, “Achieving Excellence through Human Resource Optimization” sought to celebrate HR personalities and companies that have distinguished themselves in the HR profession.

The Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Hon. Antwi Boasiako-Sekyere, who was the Guest of Honour, urged the institute and HR Focus to make the awards a permanent feature on the calendar of HR practitioners.

He also admonished HR practitioners to bring their expertise to assist government to resolve the Single Spine Salary Structure difficulty since that will mitigate the strikes that the country is currently experiencing.

In his welcome address, President of IHRMP, Mr. Dan Acheampong, said subsequent events will continue to reward HR Professionals and organizations for their past accomplishments and motivate them to engage in best HR practices.

Dr.Ellen Hagan, Chief Executive of L’aine Services, Publishers of HR Focus, also said the awards mark the "beginning of a new era, where people in other industries will also be privy to best practice in human resource and appreciate our profession for what it is - the profession that manages human resource."

According to her, HR was the most important resource to any business.  "Even though perhaps a cliché, this is still a fact”, she added.

The night saw deserving companies winning awards from the six award categories. Unilever Ghana swept four awards, which include, "Best Company in Learning and Development", "Best company in Employee Relations Practice", "Best Organization in Performance Management." and " Best Organization in Recruitment and Selection".

Graphic Communications Group Limited won the Best Organization in Rewards Management Practice.

The climax of the event was when the "Overall Best HR Company" was awarded to MTN.

According to organizers, MTN was presented with the award based on their demonstrated history and evidence of best practices in HR management including General HR Practices, Strategic Management, HR Practices Documentation, Human Resource Management Philosophy among others.

On Friday, October 4, 2013 at the same venue, the Vodafone HR Forum brought seasoned HR practitioners to speak on various topics including: “The SSPS: Impact on the Private Sector and Economy", delivered by Dr. William Baah of the University of Ghana; "Management of Labour Crises in Ghana", by Mr. Alex Frimpong – CEO, Ghana Employers Association; and "HR’s Contribution to Competitiveness", by Mrs. Stella  Agyenim-Boateng –  HR Director, Vodafone Ghana.

Ms. Anja Hartman, HR Director, Sage VIP, South Africa, also spoke on "How to Exploit IT in the World of HR".

The conference, which comprised HR Exhibition, saw corporate bodies and HR Practitioners demonstrate their in-depth knowledge to deal with labour related issues in their various disciplines.

The forum was moderated by Dr. Mrs. Ellen Hagan, CEO of L’AINE Services Limited.

The first Ghana HR Conference and Excellence awards was sponsored by Joy FM, Vodafone, ZoomLion, Starlife Assurance, SCG Consult, Sage VIP, C & J Medicare,  DDP, B & FT, Charter House, Kasapreko, TV3, VLISCO, Graphic Communications Group, Coca Cola, and J.A Plant Pool.