Seven companies have been presented with Ghana
Business Code Gold Membership certificates for adhering to high standards of business practice in human rights, labour values, best environmental
responsibility and anti-corruption.
They are Tropical Cables and Conductors Limited, a private company, TV3 etwork, a private Television station, Toyota Ghana Limited and PZ Cussons Limited, an international consumer products group.
The rest area Nexans Kabel Metal Limited, an electrical cable manufacturing company, Wileb Mining Suppliers, distributors of mining
explosives and Kasapa Telecom Limited, a private telecommunication service provider.
In a speech read on her behalf at a ceremony to present the certificates and to formally launch the business code membership scheme in Accra on Thursday, Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry, said the code aimed at guiding business managers in the country to adopt and adhere to good practices.
She said that the code was modelled on the UN Global Compact, a document that focuses on internationally accepted practices in the areas of human rights, labour standards, care for the environment and anti-corruption within the framework of business.
Ms Tetteh said that about 120 companies in the country had signed on to the code and expressed the hope that many other operators in the business community would enrol.
Mr Stephen Amoanor, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, lauded the contributions of the Association of Ghanaian Industries (AGI), Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) and Ghana Employers Association (GEA) towards the establishment of the code.
He said that even though complying with the tenets of the code could be challenging it could result in long-term remunerations.
Mr Stig Barlyng, Danish Ambassador to Ghana, pledged to make the list of the seven companies available at the reception of the embassy as a way of advertising their achievements.
Mr Tony Oteng Gyasi, outgoing President of AGI, disclosed that the Danish International Development Agency through its business sector
programme support, had partnered with the AGI, GEA and GNCCI to improve Ghana's business culture.
"This partnership has led to the development of the Ghana Business Code which will help Ghanaian business tune their practices to be at par with internationally accepted ones," he said.
Mr Gyasi said that the business associations had supported the appraisal of companies that had signed on to the code by third party internationally recognised evaluators.
"The code is a voluntary initiative and would need a much stronger support from government by directing and encouraging the ministries as well as government agencies to sign on to the code," he said.
Mr Atta Krofa, President of GNCCI, expressed the hope that companies in
Ghana would embrace the code in order for the country to become a leading business destination in the world.