Ghana’s top marketing performers to be honoured in September

The media launch at the Coconut Grove Hotel in Accra brought together various stakeholders – including past awardees and first-time winners from last year’s ceremony, representatives of professional bodies, industry leaders and members of the media. 

In his opening remarks, the National President of CIMG, Mr Michael Abbiw, highlighted the legacy and purpose of the awards scheme, stating: “For more than three decades, the CIMG Awards have stood as Ghana’s gold standard for marketing excellence; rigorous, transparent, and fiercely competitive. These awards have never been about ceremonies or plaques. They exist to set the pace, uphold integrity, and challenge businesses to move beyond profits and contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s progress.” 

Mr Abbiw added: “We also recognise the new responsibilities in this space. There has been a proliferation of awards schemes over the years, some of which raise serious concerns around transparency and standards. As the gold standard in marketing recognition, CIMG is taking a firm stance. Awards must be earned, not gifted. They must be data-driven.” 

He also reflected on CIMG’s broader mission and its resolve to position marketing as a force for national transformation. 

“This platform has always been about advancing the true power of marketing [by] building strong [and] sustainable businesses, raising performance standards, protecting consumers, and shaping national success. This is our mission at CIMG: to reward ethical marketing leadership that drives social impact, national development and global competitiveness.” 

Strategic national branding initiative 

A major highlight of the launch was the announcement of a strategic national branding initiative between CIMG and the Government of Ghana. Mr Abbiw revealed that the two organisations will be developing a sustainable strategy for branding Ghana. This initiative aims to position the country as an export-driven economy and is envisioned as a long-term effort that demands sustained commitment and professionalism. 

“To bring this vision to life, we propose the immediate formation of the Brand Ghana Council, a multi-stakeholder body including CIMG, government and industry. This council will provide leadership, coordination, and oversight for all branding efforts, which we believe must sit with CIMG to ensure continuity despite changing administrations in government. Ghana’s brand must not rise and fall with changing governments. It must endure. It must be protected. It must be elevated consistently,” he said. 

Meticulous processes and evolving structure of the awards 

Discussing the awards, the Chairperson of the Awards, Conferences and Events Committee, Mr Kwasi Kyere, elaborated on the meticulous processes and evolving structure of the awards scheme.  

“In recent years we have successfully implemented an online system for nominees to complete the awards questionnaire and for judges, selected from various industries, to conduct their assessments,” he said. 

“This setup has enabled CIMG to uphold a rigorous process, maintaining both standards and credibility. We will continue to review and introduce new elements to ensure the awards remain relevant and exciting.” 

Touching on the relevance of this year’s theme, Mr Kyere emphasised the strategic intent behind its selection.  

“At CIMG, our awards themes are thoughtfully selected to reflect current circumstances. They are considered to inspire corporate organisations to rethink their strategies and reposition both their corporate and product brands for sustained high-impact performance,” he explained. “Considering this, we have selected a suitable theme for this year’s awards: ‘Repositioning Brand Ghana: Marketing for Economic Growth and Transformation.’ This theme reflects current economic trends and the ways businesses can implement strategies for profitability and expansion.” 

The awards cover six major competitive areas: Hall of Fame, Personality, Media and Marketing Communications, Business organisations, Products, and Not-for-Profit organisations.  

There is also a non-competitive award category known as the CIMG President’s Special Awards, which are given to female and male achievers in any endeavour, or a business entity or product or service that has positively contributed to national progress.    

The 36th Annual National Marketing Performance Awards is scheduled to take place on 13 September 2025 at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.