President Akufo-Addo lauds First SKY Group for GH₡2 donation to National Cathedral construction

President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo has lauded the Chairman of First SKY Group, Eric Seddy Kutortse for its GH₡2 million donation towards the National Cathedral construction.

President Akufo-Addo thanked the Group as the first company to donate GH₡2 million towards the building of the National Cathedral, saying “Thank you for your contribution towards the will to build the Cathedral for the nation.

The president commended the First Sky Group for the many successes it had chalked over the years as a wholly Ghanaian business entity.

In a speech delivered on behalf of the president at the 16th annual thanksgiving service to commemorate the company’s achievements last year in Accra on Sunday January 13, 2019, by the Chief of Staff, Mrs Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, the President extolled the Group Chairman of First Sky Group, Eric Seddy Kutortse, for his exemplary leadership and entrepreneurship skills that had nurtured the business into one of the best Ghanaian companies in the country.

“It has been a pleasure watching him work hard over the years and growing this company into what it has become today. A vibrant entity employing hundreds of young Ghanaians. Eric, I say a big Ayeeko (Congratulations) to you and more grease to your shoulders. You have shown that hard work and reliance on God pays. First Sky Group has been a good example of a wholly owned Ghanaian company giving back to society and contributing its widow’s mite to the well-being and growth of our nation.” The President said.

“The Renal dialysis Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and the Assemblies of God Church are examples of institutions that have been beneficiaries of the company’s goodwill. Indeed, when I indicated my decision to construct the National Cathedral on 6 March on 2017, First Sky Group through its Executive Chairperson was the first to make a handsome donation to the course. Today, thus affords me the opportunity to publicly say thank you for your decision to join the Coalition of the willing in building the Cathedral in glory and honour of God”.

The president also commended the company for their contributions towards the country’s development by creating jobs for skilled youth in the country.

The First Sky Group, which has five subsidiaries, namely; First Sky Construction Limited, First Sky Commodities, Volta Serene Hotel, Serene Insurance and First Sky Bitumen Processing Limited, has over years donated millions of cedis to support the treatment of patients with kidney failure at the Renal Dialysis Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in line with its Corporate Social responsibilities.

The company, also used the occasion of the anniversary, donated 1 million cedis to the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) for the acquisition of vehicles, speed guns and other gadgets in its campaign to reduce road accidents.

Chairman of First SKY Group, Eric Seddy Kutortse on his part hinted that the company is collaborating with Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to bring a team of specialists from Birmingham, UK to Ghana to carry out kidney transplants for patients.

According to him, the Group has already spent a total of Ghc 10 million to support patients with kidney related diseases at the Renal Dailysis Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

He intimated that, “we also continue to support and make it even free treatment for Kidney diseases at the Renal Dialysis at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. We intend to make this treatment free for all who cannot afford. For the past two years, the company committed ten million Ghana cedis towards this project. Presently the First Sky Group is in collaboration with the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to at all cost bring a team of specialists from Birmingham UK to Ghana to carry out kidney transplants for a number of patients. These visits by the UK team will lead to the medical knowledge and skill transfer to our local surgeons in the short term.”

“In the medium term however, our goal is to finance the establishment of a kidney transplant Centre at Korle Bu hospital to help stem the tides of our countrymen suffering such ailment and thus spending thousands of our foreign exchange earnings to seek such health services outside the country” he noted.

In attendance of the thanksgiving was former President Jerry John Rawlings, the Okyehene, Osaagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwesi Amoako Atta, Minister for Chieftaincy & Religious Affairs, Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi, the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Ghana, Frimpong Manso, and his deputy, Rev.Paul Henry Dsane, the management and staff of the company as well as partners and friends.