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FortyUnder40 Awards: Meet some of the nominees ‘battling it out’
This year’s FortyUnder40 Awards has been scheduled for Saturday October, 1, 2022 in Accra. Ahead of the main event, here is a summary profile of some of the nominees ‘battling’ for the ultimate in some of the categories, as announced by the organisers.
MS SELINA ASHIAGBOR
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Designer of ‘Steplineklodin’ is one of the nominees in the Fashion Category. Originally a trained Nursing Assistant , she was motivated to hone her skills in sewing while waiting to secure a permanent nursing position.
After enrolling in a fashion school for a year, she registered her company and began working in the commercial fashion industry. Currently, she has clients in America and Europe and has created three distinctive ladies’ outfits, each with a name that suddenly became popular.
After only five years in the industry, she relocated to her own fashion plaza, where she has now employed many people and hosts interns from some Technical Universities in this country.
She donated about 1,200 pieces of cloth nose masks during the lockdown to residents, churches, and mosques within and beyond her catchment area. She has about 11 apprentices some of whom she provides free training and accommodation.
MR AMINU IDDRISU
Mr Iddrisu Aminu, CEO and founder of the Abuya Group of Companies, is in the Family Business Category. He has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years and has employed about 200 people.
The Abuya Group provides services to corporate and private clients in the fields of road construction, architectural design and building contracts, cleaning services, facility management, and real estate development.
Mr Aminu began his entrepreneurial career with Abuya Corporate Wardrobe in the Northern Region. Since then, the business had expanded to include several branches in Tamale and two branches at East Legon and Kokomlemle in Accra.
Due to his passion and dedication to his businesses, he has received different honours such as the Most Promising Entrepreneur of the Year at the 4th Edition of the Most Prestigious Northern Excellence Awards.
MR CATHERINE SAKYI
Ms Cathering Sakyi is the Event Management and Planning Category. Her company was started by her passion for “bringing light to people’s hearts through events or other aspects of decorations.”
With the combination of its in-house event specialist, the company has been able to exceed clients’ expectations. Right from conceptualising, coordination, design, she and her team are able to take charge of events and deliver the best experience for clients.
The company has over the years grown to become one of the most-promising outlets in the event planning and decoration industry. Catherine is married with two children. The company offers full services event planning, coordination, consultancies, indoor and outdoor stylings for weddings and any other social and corporate events.
DR. LOUISE CAROL SERWAA DONKOR
Dr. Louise Carol Serwaa Donkor holds a BA in Political Science and Psychology and a Ph.D in Communications and Media with specialisation in Politics and Gender. She is one of the candidates in the Environmental & Climate Sustainability Category.
She has been affiliated with a number of Universities such as Howard University, Washington DC and McGill University, Montreal (Canada). As a Visiting Junior Scholar, she has Certificate in United Nations (UN) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) at the University of Toronto. She has taught and conducted research at the University of Liverpool, UK, Birmingham City University International College, (BCUIC, UK) and Ghana Institute of Journalism.
Dr. Carol Serwaa Donkor has always worked to advance the cause of the environment and people’s potential. While serving as a Policy and Communications Analyst at the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advisory Unit at the Office of the President, she spearheaded advocacy initiatives on the SDGs in communities, particularly on energy preservation in households.
She also gave technical support to the President in his roles as co-Chair of the UN Eminent Group of Advocates on the SDGs and as a member of the High-Level Panel on Sustainable Ocean Economy.
DR. NAOMI ADJEPONG
Dr. Naomi Adjepong, nominated in the Education Category, is the School Director at Alpha Beta Education Centres, a 35-year-old family-owned school based in Accra.
She has 15 years of managerial experience and prior to becoming School Director, she served as Director of Operations and Head of the Entrepreneurial Leadership Department at Alpha Beta.
With the support of a dedicated team, she designed and implemented an entrepreneurial leadership track called the ‘Adinkrahene’ Leadership Programme which has been running successfully at Alpha Beta for eight years.
The programme for young people aged six to 18 years runs parallel to the academic British National Curriculum. It provides an enriched educational experience ensuring that students gain exposure and develop Christian values, attitude and skills they need to succeed in the 21st Century.
Based on the success of the programme, Alpha Beta was recognised in 2016 as an ‘Ashoka Changemaker’ School.
She is the co-founder and a Board Member of Emerge Leadership Ltd, which designs and runs leadership development programmes for teenagers in Ghana and the United Kingdom.
She serves as a Board Member in a number of organisations including, Arkfund – Databank Group and Alpha Beta Charitable Trust, a charitable organisation that works to improve the quality of life for people in disadvantaged communities in Ghana.
MR FELIX ATSRIM
He is a Certified Project Manager with almost two decades of expertise in Project Financing and Civil Engineering. He is a member of several professional organisations, including the Ghana Institution of Engineers, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the Association of Project Management.
He is the Director of Projects and Chief Executive Officer of the ‘FeDems Group.’ Between 2008 and 2011, he worked as a Geodetic Engineer with Associated Consultants on the construction of the Achimota Transport Terminal Extension for the World Bank’s Urban Environmental & Sanitation Project.
He is one of the candidates in the Consultancy and Professional Services Category.
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.