The award was presented at the prestigious maiden UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards Ceremony in Accra on December 2, 2017.  Mr Iain Walker, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, presented the award to Mrs Jean Mensa, the Executive Director of the IEA.

The award recognized the IEA for being a think-tank that has made important contributions to improving the landscape for enterprise and entrepreneurship in the region.  In a statement released and copied to the Ghana News Agency, the Institute said it believed that the creation of an environment in which economic, social, political and legal institutions function openly and freely was the key to attainment of sustainable economic growth and human development.

“Engendering private sector-led economic growth and strengthening the pillars of democracy with our ultimate mission being to promote good governance, democracy and a free market economy in Ghana, and Africa as a whole,” it said.

The IEA stated that its main objective was to broaden the debate on public policy.

According to the IEA, its evidence-based research, backed by persistent advocacy, has resulted in several key reforms that have helped consolidate Ghana’s democracy and promoted sustainable economic development.

The IEA highlighted its role in getting The Petroleum Transparency and Accountability (P-TRAC) Index to be implemented and applied in Ghana as one of its most savoured achievement.

“With the advent of oil and gas in Ghana, the IEA has undertaken significant research and advocacy so as to promote good governance in the sector through transparent, accountable and efficient management of revenues. Research in this area concentrated on developing and applying an index for tracking transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector. This index, The Petroleum Transparency and Accountability (P-TRAC) Index, has been applied to Ghana,” it added.

The Institute named The Serious Fraud Office Act, 1993 (Act 466), the Repeal of the Criminal Libel and Sedition Laws, 2001, The Whistle-blower Act, 2006 (Act 720) and The Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845) reforms as the other highpoints of the Institute.

The IEA said it would continue to conduct evidence-based research on wide ranging issues and highlights concrete recommendations for reform. Since its foundation in 1989, The IEA has been recognised for its significant contribution to shaping and influencing public policy in Ghana and the sub-region using evidence-based research and advocacy.

The UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC) engaged the services of Nielsen Corporation-a credible global marketing research firm to assist in ascertaining the businesses and organisations best deserving of their corresponding awards.

Amongst other winners were multinational companies like Unilever, Vodafone, and Barclays.