The 6th Health, Environment, Safety, and Security (HESS) Awards were held on Friday, June 28, 2024, continuing the tradition of celebrating businesses leading the way in environmental, health, and safety initiatives. Under the theme ‘Thriving in a Changing World: Embracing Resilience and Agility in HESS’, the event recognised excellence and innovation, with Anglogold Ashanti and Trust Hospital emerging as standout winners.
Anglogold Ashanti took home eight awards, underscoring its commitment to environmental sustainability and workplace safety. The mining giant was honoured with the ‘Best Company in Environmental Management Practices’ award for its sustainable mining efforts.
Other accolades included Best Company in HESS Compliance, Reporting, and Monitoring; Best Company in On-Site Safety Awareness and Communication (Mining); HESS Company of the Year; Best Company in HESS Integration and Digitalization; HESS Team of the Year; Most Outstanding Contribution for Sustainable Development; and HESS Innovation Excellence Award.
Trust Hospital was recognised for its excellence in healthcare delivery and patient safety, winning the Best Company in Employee Health and Wellbeing Initiatives and the Patient Safety & Security Excellence awards. The hospital was also lauded for its Best Public Health Awareness Education Initiative, and its CEO, Dr. Juliana Ameh, received the HESS CEO of the Year award.
This year’s winners also included Fidelity Bank Ghana Ltd., GB Foods Ghana Ltd., Interplast Ltd., Sonotech Medical and Diagnostic Centre, and Wilmar Africa Ltd., among others.
Zhara Abdulai, speaking on behalf of Awarding Board Chairperson Professor Douglass Boateng, highlighted the relevance of this year’s theme. “The HESS Awards are a testament to the tireless efforts of those who have dedicated themselves to creating a safer, healthier, and more sustainable world. Our awardees have demonstrated unwavering commitment, innovative thinking, and a passion for excellence in HESS management,” she said.
“Their remarkable work inspires us to strive for excellence, push boundaries, and challenge the status quo. With determination, collaboration, and a shared vision, we can overcome even the most daunting challenges. Recognising our awardees underscores the importance of HESS in the workplace, in our communities, and in our personal lives. HESS is not just a moral imperative but also a business imperative essential for long-term success and sustainability,” she added.
Cephas Adjei Mensah, Director of Research Statistics and Information Management at the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), speaking on behalf of the Minister, emphasised the importance of the awards.
“The HESS Awards serve as a platform to recognise and promote best practices across various industries. The ministry recognises the critical role of strong health, environment, safety, and security practices within businesses and other organisations in ensuring sustainable development for Ghana. We are committed to supporting Ghanaian organisations in their endeavours to achieve excellence in these fields.”
Martin Afram, Director for Planning and Programmes at the National Roads and Safety Authority, speaking on behalf of Acting Director General David Osafo Adonteng, stressed the need for resilience in a rapidly evolving world. “Today, we celebrate not only our ability to withstand the unpredictable but also our capacity to evolve and thrive in adversity for growth and innovation. Resilience is about creating a culture of continuous learning and improvement,” he said.
Isaac Adu-Gyamfi, the events director, praised the participants for their dedication and hard work. “The HESS Awards continue to honour those at the forefront of creating safer, healthier, and more sustainable environments. We are proud to recognise and celebrate these outstanding achievements, which set a high standard for others to follow.”
Robert Emmanuel Kaye, the lead assessor, provided insight into the criteria and selection process for the awardees. He explained that the evaluation process is comprehensive and rigorous, involving multiple stages of assessment. “Our criteria focus on innovation, impact, and sustainability. We look at how organisations implement and integrate HESS practices into their operations, the measurable outcomes of these practices, and their commitment to continuous improvement. The selection process includes site visits, interviews, and thorough reviews of submitted documentation to ensure that the awardees truly represent the best in their respective fields,” Kaye noted.
The event fostered networking, knowledge sharing, and inspiration for further advancements in health, environment, safety, and security. The HESS Awards continue to highlight the remarkable efforts of those committed to enhancing standards in these crucial areas.
HESS 2024 winners list
Community Involvement Hospital/Clinic 2024, Sonotech Medical and Diagnostic Centre; Customer Safety and Security Management Practices 2024, Fidelity Bank Ghana; Eco-Friendly Product Manufacturing/Supply 2024, Sonapack Ghana; Employee Road Safety Education and Practice, Interplast; Environmental Management Practices 2024, Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mine; Fire Safety and Security Management Practices 2024, Fidelity Bank Ghana; Health & Safety Campaign 2024, Puma Energy Ghana; and Health and Safety Management Practices 2024, GB Foods Ghana.
HESS Compliance, Reporting, and Monitoring 2024, Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mine; Warehouse Safety and Security Management Practices 2024, Sunon Asogli Power Ghana; On-site Safety Awareness and Communication (Hospital) 2024, The Bank Hospital; On-site Safety Awareness and Communication (Mining) 2024, Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mine; On-site Safety Awareness and Communication (Manufacturing) 2024, GB Foods Ghana; Process Safety & Quality Management Practices (Manufacturing) 2024, Wilmar Africa; Process Safety & Quality Management Practices (Hospitals) 2024, The Bank Hospital; Product Safety & Quality Management Practices 2024, Interplast; Data Security Management Practices 2024, Access Bank Ghana PLC; and Employee Health and Wellbeing Initiatives 2024, The Trust Hospital Company.
Construction Safety Company of the Year 2024, Mayfair Estates; Waste Management and Recycling Practices 2024, Interplast; CSR Excellence Award 2024, B5 Plus Group; Employee Empowerment Excellence Award 2024, Access Bank Ghana PLC; Facility Excellence Award (Petroleum Depot) 2024, Blue Oceans Investments; Food Safety (Manufacturing) 2024, Wilmar Africa; Healthcare Facility Excellence Award 2024, The Bank Hospital; HESS Company of the Year 2024, Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mine; HESS Integration and Digitalization 2024, Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mine; HESS Team of the Year 2024, Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mine; Risk Management and Reporting 2024, First Bank Ghana; HSE Consulting Firm of the Year 2024, JIK Management Advisory Africa; and Manufacturing Facility Excellence Award 2024, GB Foods Ghana.
Most Outstanding Contribution for Sustainable Development 2024, Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mine; Cybersecurity Management Practices 2024, First Bank Ghana; Patient Safety & Security Excellence Award 2024, The Trust Hospital Company; Sustainability and Operational Excellence Award 2024, Fidelity Bank Ghana; Educational Facility Excellence Award 2024, Young Executive School; Most Improved Total Recordable Incident Rate 2024, Drill Masters Africa; Service Station Facility Excellence Award 2024, Puma Energy Ghana; Best Public Health Awareness Education Initiative Award 2024, The Trust Hospital Company; HESS CEO of the Year 2024, Dr. Juliana Ameh (CEO, The Trust Hospital); HESS Manager of the Year 2024, Emmanuel Atiemo (GB Foods Ghana Ltd); Safety Professional Excellence Award 2024, Ishmael Kodzokpo (JIK Management Advisory Africa); Young Safety Professional Excellence Award 2024, Paul Ackah (Drill Masters Africa); and HESS Innovation Excellence Award, Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mine.
Special Judges Award
Customer Service Excellence Award 2024, St. Johns Hospital and Fertility Centre; Environmental Trailblazer Award 2024, George Owusu-Ansah (Snr Manager Environment, AGA Obuasi Mine); Renewable Energy Integration Practices Award 2024, Sunon Asogli Power; and Healthcare Regulatory Excellence Award 2024, HeFRA.
