Ghana’s finalists in this year’s final awards of ‘Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the year, West Africa 2012’ have been recognized and outdoored at a Country Recognition Cocktail in their honour in Accra.

The 2012 Award Finalists from Ghana are Mr. William Ato Essien, Chief Executive Officer, First Capital Plus Ltd, Ms Adelaide Ahwireng, Chief Executive Officer, FIO Enterprises Ltd, Mr Frank Adu, Managing Director, CAL Bank Ltd and Mr Roland Agambire, Managing Director, RLG Technologies Ltd.

The finalists would participate in the awards at the end of November 2012 in Lagos Nigeria.

Founded in the mid-western town of the USA in 1986, the annual programme has not only grown to become the only worldwide award event of its kind, but also currently held in 140 cities across 50 countries around the world.

As the first and only truly global award of its kind, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award is an annual event designed to recognize, celebrate and honour entrepreneurs who through ingenuity, hard work and perseverance have created and sustained successful businesses with national, regional and global awards’ programmes.

The award was introduced in West Africa last year and was adjudged a huge success by both participants and industry watchers in Nigeria and Ghana.

According to Ernst & Young Regional Managing Partner for West Africa, Mr Henry Egbiki, the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards Programme was brought to the region to motivate and encourage entrepreneurs in West Africa to maximise their potential.

Ferdinand Gunn, Country Leader, Ghana, said the Entrepreneur of the Year Award Programme is one of the evidences of the giant strides entrepreneurs, business leaders are making in this part of Africa saying “Africa’s progress has been phenomenon as the continent has remained the most attractive for investment in recent times”.

Globally, Ernst & Young has played a supportive role in recognizing and honouring entrepreneurs that have made a difference in their business domains and achieved success across a variety of industries and communities.