Mr. Emmanuel Kwabena Agyeman, Chief Executive Officer of E.K. Agyeman Mining Group of Companies, has received a platinum award at the 3rd Ashanti Business Leaders Excellence Awards for his tremendous efforts and major contributions to the economic development of the Ashanti Region and the country at large.

It is also in recognition of his inspirational entrepreneurial leadership and outstanding contribution to the socio-economic development of the Ashanti Region.

The Apagyahene, Oheneba Afriyie II, who represented Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, at the event, presented the award to E. K. Agyeman.

The event, which was organised by Top Brass Ghana, under the auspices of Manhyia Palace, stated that the award was part of Otumfuo's strategy of improving the economy of the Ashanti Region.

Two excellence awards schemes, namely the 'Ashanti Business Excellence Awards' and 'Ashanti Financial Excellence Awards', instituted by the Asantehene, had been conferred on a number of business enterprises and financial institutions since 2004.

In a citation presented to E.K. Agyeman Mining Group of Companies, it was explained that the company acquired its first mining license in the same year, and began operations with 10 workers at Mpatoam in the Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region.

As a small-scale mining company, it currently mines at five different locations, namely, Mpatoam, Nyamebekyere, Aboabo sites, all in the Amansie West District, and Atuntuma and Amadaa operation sites in the Atwima Mponua District.

It stated that, as a small-scale mining company, E. K. Agyeman Mining Group of Companies Limited has embarked on numerous social responsibilities projects, notable among them being the commissioning of a 5-unit classroom block with office and store, and provided electricity poles for rural electrification, and two boreholes for the Mpatoam community.

The company has, in the past, awarded scholarships to needy but brilliant students at all levels of education.

Mr. Emmanuel Kwabena Agyeman commended Otumfuo for recognising his modest contribution to the economy, and said the award would serve as motivation for him to put in more efforts to make sure he contributed further to the development of the Ashanti Region, and the nation at large.

He pleaded with his fellow businessmen and women to always help the less privileged in society, especially in education and infrastructural facilities, to help raise the living standards of the people.