Twenty-four expatriate businesses operating in the country were honoured at the first Ghana Expatriate Business Awards 2017, for their outstanding performance over the years, with two other special awards being conferred on two outstanding individuals.

The Chairman of Interplast, Mr Saied Fakhry, was crowned the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Man Expatriate of the Year.

Mr Fakhry, who is also the Chairman of Dream Reality and Inesfly, was decorated by President Akufo-Addo at the first-ever Ghana Expatriate Business Awards 2017 in Accra.

The crowning was the climax of the award ceremony where 24 institutions, including Unilever Ghana Ltd, which was adjudged the Top Business Expatriate Company of the Year, as well as the Managing Director of UBA Bank, Mrs Abiola Bawuah, who was also crowned the CEO Woman Expatriate of the Year, were rewarded.

Mr Fakhry and Mrs Bawuah each received a shield and citation for their sterling performance during the year. 

Awardees

Companies that picked up awards at the various category levels were Wienco, Agriculture and Agri-business Company of the Year; KLM, Aviation Company of the Year; Coral Paint, Pharmaceutical and Chemicals Company of the Year, and B5 Plus, Metal and Steel Company of the Year.

The Mining Company of the Year went to Geodrill, Electricals and Electronics Company of the Year was given to Nexans KableMetal, while Retail, Automotive, Exports and Service companies of the Year went to Melcom, Japan Motors, Blue Skies and Aviance Ghana, respectively.

Zenith Bank and Standard Chartered Bank jointly received the Banking and Finance Institutions of the Year awards while Nestle Ghana picked the Best Company of the Year award in the Food and Beverages category.

Interplast won the Best Company in the Rubber and Plastics category with Maersk winning the Best Company in the Road/Transport/Shipping category, while Tigo emerged winner in the Information, Communication and Technology category.

In the Personal care and Cosmetics category, Unilever topped all as the Company of the Year, while De Simone and Consar jointly picked the Best companies of the Year in the Building & Construction category.

It was host and win situation for the Tourism and Hospitality category, when Movenpick Hotel hosted the event and won in that category while the Sonan Asogli Plant and Printex emerged as the companies of the year in the Energy and Power category, as well as the Garment, Textiles & Leather categories, respectively.