President John Dramani Mahama has lauded the First Sky Group for its consistent delivery of quality work, strong corporate values and commitment to philanthropy.
He described the group as a shining example of what indigenous Ghanaian enterprises can achieve when excellence and discipline are prioritised.
He commended the group’s diversity in service provision and its willingness to share its success with the less privileged, noting that such attributes not only strengthened the private sector but also contributed meaningfully to national development.
The President was speaking as the Special Guest at the 23rd anniversary Thanksgiving service of the First Sky Group, held at the Accra International Conference Centre on Sunday.
The President recounted a phenomenon in observed when he took office during his first term in office, where a significant number of projects financed from the national budget were being executed by foreign contractors, a situation he said undermined local capacity development.
He explained that this informed his decision to direct that projects funded by public resources be awarded to local contractors, alongside a deliberate policy to build their technical and financial capacity to compete favourably with international firms.
President Mahama stressed that the growth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product depended largely on how well local companies were supported, citing construction and infrastructure firms such as the First Sky Group as examples of indigenous enterprises capable of delivering quality work to international standards.
He expressed pride in the quality of projects executed by the group and applauded its diversification across sectors, as well as its philanthropic interventions aimed at supporting the less privileged.
The President also used the occasion to call on Ghanaians to take personal responsibility for their health by adopting healthier lifestyles and undergoing regular medical check-ups, noting that preventable illnesses continued to impose a heavy burden on families and the national economy.
He said the government’s Primary Health Care Programme and the GHC ¢21 billion Mahama Care initiative were designed to bring healthcare closer to communities and address the growing incidence of non-communicable diseases.
President Mahama attributed the recent economic turnaround, including easing inflation and the strengthening of the local currency, the cedi, to divine intervention, expressing optimism that Ghana’s progress would attract global admiration by the end of 2026.
“By the end of 2026, the whole world would be standing and clapping for us”
He urged employees of the First Sky Group to remain diligent and committed, advising them to treat their work with the same care they would give to their families, stressing that dedication to duty ultimately secured livelihoods and long-term stability.
“ if you take the job as your family and take good care of it, it would also take good care of you”, he said
The Executive Chairman of the First Sky Group, Mr Eric Seddy Kutortse, in his address, attributed the group’s 23-year journey of growth, diversification and impact to divine sustenance, integrity-driven leadership and deliberate investment in Ghanaian capacity.
Mr Kutortse noted that what began as a single company had grown into a diversified Ghanaian conglomerate spanning construction, insurance, hospitality, commodities, bitumen processing, energy and rural banking.
Job creation
“Across these operations today, over 6,000 people are employed across the regions of our country, supporting families and contributing meaningfully to national development,” he said, adding that “this can only be the doing of the Lord.”
He said the anniversary celebration was not merely about longevity in business, but a moment of reflection on a vision anchored in faith, usefulness and responsibility to society.
Mr Kutortse said the Group’s mandate extended beyond profit-making to job creation, faith and social responsibility.
He added that the Group had built more than 101 churches nationwide and was currently constructing 50 additional churches and mission houses for the Assemblies of God, Ghana.
“This is part of our commitment to support God’s mission and men and women of God,” he said.
Investments in clean energy
On sustainability, he announced that First Sky Energies would complete a 50-megawatt solar photovoltaic power station at Yendi by the end of March.
“This is the first fully Ghanaian-owned utility-scale solar project of its kind and the second largest solar installation in the country. It represents confidence in Ghanaian entrepreneurship and ownership and aligns directly with the commitment to clean energy, decent work and climate action.” He added
He said the project would create more than 300 jobs, particularly in the Northern Region.
Health and social impact
Mr Kutortse also disclosed that First Sky Group had committed over GH¢51 million over eight years to provide free dialysis for patients at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
“With the introduction of the Mahama CARE initiative, we have now redirected our support towards free kidney transplant services in Ghana,” he said, noting that six kidney transplants were fully sponsored last year alone.
Mr Kutortse expressed appreciation to President Mahama for the government’s Big Push agenda, under which First Sky Construction had been engaged.
“We are grateful that under this vision, First Sky Construction has been entrusted as a partner based on recognition of capacity and competence. Through this engagement, we are expanding our workforce, transferring skills and strengthening Ghanaian participation in national development.”
Mr Kutortse commended the staff for their dedication to the vision of the group and described the anniversary as their legacy.
“You carried this vision when it was uncertain. You sustained it when it was difficult. Let us continue to prove that Ghanaian businesses can be ethical, excellent and globally competitive”.
The event was attended by President John Dramani Mahama, Chairman of the Council of State, Mr Doe Adjaho; Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams; Apostle General Sam Korankye Ankrah, who chaired the occasion; senior clergy; traditional rulers from the Volta Region led by Togbe Tepreh Hodo IV; some members of Parliament; ministers of state; and captains of industry.
