CEO of insurance firm, Metropolitan Life Ghana, AJ Kruger, has expressed optimism about insurance penetration in Ghana although it currently stands at 2 percent.

According to him the increase in the country’s GDP per capita and growth in retail banking penetration should see insurance penetration rate increase.

Mr. Kruger was addressing Metropolitan Life’s “Night of the Stars” to recognise personnel in the sales team who have made immense contribution to the company at the end of the business sales year.

“Insurance worldwide, including Ghana is hardly bought, but sold. This makes the role that our sales teams play, together with appropriate products and service delivery, in making both the industry and our company grow extremely important”, AJ noted.

Addressing sales executives at the ceremony chaired by Insurance Commissioner Lydia Bawa, Mr. Kruger noted consumer needs were changing and it was important that sales channels remain relevant. He added technology, including mobile technology, the internet and social media, would play an ever increasing role in consumerism and urged salesmen and brokers not to see it as a threat but embrace it.

Also in attendance was the former CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines who urged the sales personnel to be diligent and persistent in the work they do.

A number of officials from across the country were awarded for their outstanding contribution with the top award going to Eric Nyanteh. He told JOY BUSINESS he was elated and motivated to do more.

Metropolitan Life Ghana, just like Metropolitan Pensions Trust Ghana and Metropolitan Health Insurance Ghana are part of the Metropolitan International cluster and ultimately MMI Holdings Group.  As a Group MMI provides employment to 16,000 people and enjoys the financial strength of a Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed-company valued at over $4bn and with assets under management of over 10 times that number, has been doing business in Africa for more than a century. 

Here’s a full list of award winners.

Retail Zonal Manager of the year - Rafique Daudi of the Northen Zone

Top National Branch Manager of the year - Seth Sorgah

Top Zonal Branch Manager: West -Evans Arhin, East -Seth Sorgah, North -Eric Amoo-Adams, Accra -Prosper Bor

Top National Agents - Eric Nyanteh, David Amponsah, West -Godfred Aboagye, Godfred Buabeng, East - David Amponsah, Samuel Norvor, North -Yao Akunkah, Lydia Qaicoe, Accra -Eric Nyanteh, E Boateng

Top 2 National new agents - Joseph Bekoe, Godfred Ohemeng

Link Officers - Patrick Tekpor, A Asamiah

Corporate Marketing - Metropolitan Pensions Trust

Life Operations- Jude Galley

Health Operations- Marvin Gyan

Pensions Operations -Ibrahim Issaka

HR/IA/FIN - Edith Botchway