Nestlé and Ghana Education Service, reinforces Partnership ahead of 2026 President’s Independence Awards
Nestlé Ghana Ltd has reaffirmed its long-standing
collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) during a courtesy visit
held as part of preparations for the 2026 President’s Independence Day Awards.
The award scheme recognizes academic excellence in the Basic Education
Certificate Examination.
For the 2026 ceremony, a total of 52 outstanding
students will be honored. This includes the Overall Best Public School
Students (male and female) across all 16 regions, Overall Best Private
School Students in each region, as well as the Overall Best National-
Male and Female Students with additional educational needs—specifically
those with visual or hearing impairments—all based on raw examination scores.
The visit focused on strengthening collaboration in education, sports
development, and youth empowerment nationwide.
As part of the Nestlé delegation was Cristina Macina,
Vice President of Communications for Zone Asia, Oceania and Africa, who was
visiting Ghana for the first time. She was warmly received by Professor Ernest
Kofi Davis, Director General of GES, along with other senior officials.
During the discussions, Deborah Kwablah, Corporate
Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Nestlé Ghana, emphasized flagship
initiatives such as the President’s Independence Awards and the MILO U-13
football tournament. She noted that these programs continue to play a pivotal
role in promoting academic excellence and nurturing young sporting talent.
Nestlé Ghana’s Managing Director, Salomé Azevedo,
reiterated the company’s commitment to inclusive sports development. She
highlighted the MILO U-13 platform as a key avenue for ensuring that every
child—regardless of background—has an equal opportunity to discover and develop
their potential.
Adding to this, Patricia Ekaba, Head of Corporate
Communications and Public Affairs for Central and West Africa, expressed
Nestlé’s continued enthusiasm for supporting young talents and contributing to
national efforts in both education and sports.
In her remarks, Ms. Macina praised the cooperative
spirit between Nestlé and GES, noting that investments in sports and education
are essential to nurturing Ghana’s future leaders. Professor Davis acknowledged
the company’s decades of partnership with GES and expressed readiness to sign a
new Memorandum of Understanding that seeks to broaden collaboration to include
nutrition education and sustainability initiatives—such as waste segregation in
schools.
As part of her familiarization visit, Ms. Macina also
engaged with two awardees from the 2023 cohort of the President’s Independence
Awards to understand the long-term impact of the recognition program. Her visit
further included a stop at the University of Ghana’s Institute of Applied
Science and Technology to explore ongoing areas of collaboration with Nestlé
Ghana.