Dr. Alhaji Abdul-Salam Akate
Alhaji Abdul-Salam Akate, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Akate Farms and Trading Company Ltd, has been honoured with an Honorary Doctorate Degree by the Central Ukrainian Technical University.
The top university, which had seen Dr Akate’s splendid works, conferred on him the ‘Ambassador of Business Entrepreneur in West Africa for 2017,’ during a colourful ceremony in Kumasi, Ashanti Regional capital, recently.
The academic honour is to praise and also motivate the Akate Farms boss, whose invaluable contributions over the past three decades, had led to the creation of jobs and growth of Ghana’s economy.
The award ceremony was part of the International Conference Awards 2017/18, and it was held at the College of Science Auditorium at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.
Dr. Akate was accompanied by a retinue of his workers, family members, loved ones and several people, from all corners of the country, who had benefitted from his largesse over the past 30 years, as he received the award.
Other Awards
It was the third time this year that Alhaji Akate had been honoured by a reputable institution for his extraordinary contributions towards the development of businesses and enhancement of human lives in his country.
The West African Nobles’ Forum recently conferred on him, the ‘Nobles International Award for 2017’ for being an eminent West African, who upholds the virtues of honesty, integrity and accountability.
He was also the proud recipient of the ‘Diamond Jubilee Business and Financial Services Excellence Award-2017’ in recognition of his outstanding contribution through agriculture (poultry) to the economic development of Ghana.
Akate Farms History
Akate Farms started its operations at Buokrom-Dote in Kumasi in 1987 with 800 commercial birds and 1,500 layers and since that time, the company has grown to become a giant in the poultry industry in Ghana.
It has now opened branches in Accra and Cape Coast in the Greater and the Central Regions respectively, where it is providing professional services to thousands of customers on a daily basis.
Akate Farms can now boast of 350 permanent workers and hundreds of casual ones.
Aside the poultry industry, Akate Farms is also making strong waves in other areas in the agricultural sector.
The company now owns a 6,000-acre maize farm in the Northern Region, which has provided direct work for 1,500 people.
Akate’s Secret
Dr Abdul-Salam Akate, who was the National Best Farmer for 2007, disclosed that the fear of God, humility, respect for all manner of people that meet on daily basis, truthfulness to his business partners and hard work are the secret behind his success in business.
The Akate Farms CEO, who is noted for using his resources to sponsor hundreds of brilliant but needy students, urged up-and-coming businessmen and women to be truthful and hardworking, adding, “There is no shortcut in life.”
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi