Nyamikeh Kyimah (right) receiving her award from Lydia Lariba Bawa
As a mark of gratitude to some captains of Ghana’s insurance industry, the National Insurance Commission (NIC) has awarded four of its past commissioners for their exceptional contributions towards its progress over the years.
The awardees included Moses Adu Darko, Commissioner from 1984 to 1992; Josephine Jennifer Amoah, Commissioner from 2001 to 2009; Nyamikeh Kyimah, Commissioner from 2009 to 2013 and Samuel Appiah-Ampofo, Commissioner from 1993-2003.
The awards were presented to them on Saturday in Accra on the sidelines of a special dinner dance held at the Labadi Beach Hotel to climax the 25th anniversary of the NIC – an occasion that brought together captains of the insurance industry.
Held under the theme: ‘NIC, 25 Years Advancing The Frontiers of Insurance In Ghana’, the weeklong celebrations commenced on November 21 this year with a health-walk through some principal streets of Accra, followed by a series of activities, including a public lecture and donation exercises to the accident centre of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital as well as the Ghana National Ambulance Service.
In separate citations read for the awardees, each of them was credited with playing a pivotal role in transforming the National Insurance Commission from a ‘deplorable’ state to a modern entity capable of favourably competing with other insurance regulatory bodies the world over.
“You practically took over this enviable office from nothing and initiated the insurance restructuring programme over your tenure. Under this programme, you built the commission from an office with two small rooms under the Ministry of Finance to a quasi-autonomous institution modelled after similar international institutions,” an excerpt from the citation of Mr Adu Darko, while that of Ms Jennifer Amoah read as “Truly, your leadership qualities are evident and your achievement as an insurance practitioner is definitely remarkable.”
Commissioner of Insurance, Madam Lydia Lariba Bawa, in a welcome remark pointed out the celebrations had been successful.
On the achievements of the industry over the period under review, she indicated that the commission had succeeded in introducing a series of initiatives like the ‘no premium no cover’ aimed at promoting insurance in Ghana.
She also stated that the NIC was embarking on educational campaigns to create public awareness about the importance of insurance.
Touching on the way forward for the sector, the commissioner said, “We (NIC) are hoping that the insurance industry will rise up and play its role to the development of our country.
By Melvin Tarlue