First Sky Group changes narratives for local business in Ghana

It is not often that a privately-owned local business in Ghana survives for 20 years; and, to find one that has actually thrived for that long is ever rarer.

But First Sky Group, a locally-owned holding company, just achieved that feat. And, founder and chairman of the group Eric Seddy Kutorse, attributes that achievement to the ‘grace of God’.

At the company’s 20th anniversary thanksgiving service in Accra this January, Kutorse thanked God for His continuous guidance over the years and also expressed appreciation to Ghana’s government and the entire citizenry for their relevant supports over the last 20 years. He said despite the global economic, social, and political developments with direct and indirect impacts on the Ghanaian economy, the power of God as the underlying factor and driving force had sustained and preserved the company throughout the year.

“We did not lay off any worker or did any worker experience any pay cut (during the covid-19 period), but rather (we) improved the welfare of workers and also increased our staff strength by 410 bringing it to 5,120 total workers, both permanent and casual in the entire group,”  Kutorse said.

He noted that God had been faithful to the group, leading to the addition of other subsidiaries including First Sky Commodities Limited, a Licensed Cocoa Buying company operating in all the cocoa growing areas of Ghana, and Volta Serene Hotel, a 4 Star Luxury hotel.

According to him, a joint working committee from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the premier teaching hospital in Ghana, and the First Sky Group had been formed to build a kidney transplant center at the hospital; and, expressed the hope that by the end of 2023 the  transplant center would be fully operational to cater to patients not only in Ghana but the entire west Africa sub-region.

The thanksgiving service was preceded a day before by a musical performance dubbed ‘First Sky Group Stands in Worship’, which featured performances by Nigeria’s gospel music star Mercy Chinwo and Ghana’s former artiste-of-the year Joe Mettle.

The First Sky Group is a wholly Ghanaian-owned holding entity with subsidiaries  in the hospitality, construction, oil and gas, insurance, banking, commodities trading, and bitumen processing sectors of Ghana’s economy; and, with a combined permanent workforce of over 3, 800. It first started operations in 2002 as First Sky Construction Limited, with a workforce of only three people. The construction company presently boasts of 1, 200 permanent staff and 1, 700 casual workers. The group’s other subsidiaries are First Sky Commodities Limited,  First Sky Bitumen Processing Limited, Volta Serene Hotel, Serene Insurance Company Limited, Frerol Rural Bank and First Sky Energies Limited.

In a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr. Kwesi Amoako-Atta,

Ghana’s President Nana Addo Danqua Akufo-Addo said the desire to build a strong and healthy economy to stand the global economic and social pressure of the time remained his government’s fixed resolution.

“I do recognise that things have not been as we expected as far as the nation’s economy is concerned, but I can assure you that my government is still committed to working hard to turn around the fortunes of the nation.”

“I am of the strongest conviction that we will turn the corner, there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel and Ghanaians will surely experience better days again,” the President said, noting that

private sector entities such as the First Sky Group were contributing to the country’s economic development.

The president assured of his government’s commitment to  creating a sustainable and enabling environment for private sector actors to thrive.

“The desire to build a strong and healthy economy that will stand the global economic and social pressures of our time remains my fixed resolution: to create a very good and sustainable enabling environment for private sector actors such as First Sky Group, whose contributions undoubtedly result in the economic development of our country,” he said.

Earlier in his sermon, the general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, USA, Reverend Doug Clay, in a message titled: ‘Awareness of His presence’, urged Kutorse and the First Sky Group to remain resolute in their faith in God.

“When you lead a Christ-centered organization, there is an opposition.So, as your business expands , be mindful not to start relying on yourselves. When you feel dispirited, know that God is with you and on your side; that God protects your perspective as you walk with the awareness of His presence. Mountains may crumble, but God remains constant. Therefore, make God the Father your coach, and the Holy Spirit your consultant. The economy may not turn around, but as long as you stay in close proximity to God, He will always give you the victory. So, don’t be tempted to quit. Rather, remember that God is on your side, a very present help in times of storm.”

Emphasizing the importance of taking good and effective decisions that would impact the company in years to come, Clay, who took his text from Psalm 139:7-10, urged the group’s staff and management to fear God and walk in His ways, and He will sustain them, saying even though the company had experienced the goodness of God in its 20 years existence, “the best is yet to come.”

Awards were later presented to six individuals who had contributed to the group’s growth over the years. Beneficiaries included Dr. Sylvanus Elorm, of the Assemblies of God Church-Ghana; Rev. Prof. Opoku Onyinah, former chair of the Church of Pentecost-Ghana; Rev. Prof. Yaw Frimpong-Manso, former general superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church-Ghana; Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-William, founder and general overseer of the Action Chapel International-Ghana; Rev. Doug Clay, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church-USA; and, Her Excellency Dr. Jewell Howard Taylor, vice president of Liberia.

In addition to Liberia’s vice president  Dr Jewel Howard Taylor, other dignitaries at the event included chief of staff to Ghana’s President Mrs. Frema Osei-Opare, Ghanaian ministers of state, majority leader of Ghana’s parliament  Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu,   general overseer of the Assemblies of God Church in Ghana Rev.Dr. Stephen Yenusom Wengam, general overseer of the Royal House Chapel-Ghana Rev. Korankye Ankrah, general overseer of the Salt and Light Ministries-Ghana Rev. Joyce Aryee, founder and general overseer of the Action Chapel International Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-William, former speaker of the Ghanaian parliament Hon. Doe Adjaho, parliamentarians, members of the judiciary, the clergy, traditional leaders and management, staff, partners and other stakeholders of the company.

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