Melcom Group of Companies has officially appointed Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, former Minister for Business Development and later Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, as its Consultant on Communications and Strategy.
This is seen as a strategic move to consolidate Melcom’s position as Ghana’s largest retail brand and deepen its engagement with key stakeholders.,
The appointment of Dr Awal as communications and strategy consultant at Melcom, announced at a special ceremony in Accra, marks a new chapter for the retail giant as it seeks to sustain its growth, boost customer engagement, and expand its extensive corporate social responsibility (CSR) footprint.
Dr. Awal, a seasoned journalist, marketer, and entrepreneur, is expected to bring decades of experience and social capital to Melcom’s operations in what the Group describes as “a highly competitive and fast-changing consumer market.”
Melcom: A retail powerhouse
With over 70 retail outlets spread across Ghana, Melcom is the largest retail entity in the country, offering a wide range of quality goods and services to the public.
Beyond its expansive commercial reach, the company is also one of Ghana’s top employers, providing more than 5,500 direct jobs to Ghanaians nationwide.
“Melcom is not just about business,” said Group Managing Director, Mr. Ramesh Sadhwani.
“We are deeply invested in the lives of the people we serve, and that means giving back in meaningful ways.”
Investing in health
At the heart of Melcom’s CSR is an unwavering commitment to health.
Over the past decade, the company has become one of Ghana’s leading corporate donors to the National Blood Service (NBS), organising annual blood donation exercises to stock blood banks across the country.
“Our Blood Drive initiative for this year, held from July 23 to 26, yielded nearly 3,000 pints of blood,” Mr. Sadhwani revealed.
“That is one of the highest contributions ever recorded by a corporate institution in Ghana.”
This life-saving effort, he said, is already making a difference for pregnant women, anaemic children, accident victims, and other critical patients in need of blood transfusions.
In addition, Melcom has donated 70 medical refrigerators to hospitals across the country to ensure the safe storage of blood.
In total, the company has invested more than GH¢20 million in health and related initiatives over the last ten years.
Championing journalism and academic excellence
Melcom is also blazing a trail in the field of education, with a specific focus on promoting ethical journalism and academic excellence.
“We believe in a free, vibrant, ethical, and responsible media landscape as a key pillar of democratic development and a magnet for investment,” said Mr. Sadhwani.
“Our democracy and national image must be fiercely defended by journalists and other thought leaders.”
To this end, Melcom has signed a five-year renewable Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UNIMAC) to award an annual prize to the Best Graduate in Journalism in honour of its late Founder and Chairman, Mr. Bhagwan Ramchand Khubchandani.
Melcom will also provide full sponsorship for the Best Graduate in Journalism to pursue a Master’s degree at UNIMAC in memory of the late Mr. Godwin Avenorgbo, former Director of Communications at Melcom.
The agreement will offer scholarships to children of Melcom employees to pursue tertiary education in Ghana.
“This is our way of contributing to national development by supporting quality education and upholding the memory of two remarkable individuals who played key roles in shaping Melcom’s legacy,” Mr. Sadhwani added.
Green buildings and safe workspaces
Melcom’s CSR goes beyond human capital to include sustainability and environmental preservation.
The Group boasts six environmentally sustainable buildings certified by the World Bank—more than any other private organisation in Ghana.
The Ghana National Fire Service recently recognised the company for its dedication to safety standards, commending Melcom for maintaining safe and healthy workplaces for both staff and customers.
“As a responsible corporate citizen, we are committed to preserving the environment and promoting occupational health and safety,” Mr. Sadhwani affirmed.
“Our buildings are not just places of business—they are models of sustainability and safety.”
Media relations and stakeholder engagement
The event also served as a platform to renew Melcom’s commitment to the media, which the Group described as “a vital partner in our journey.”
“We appreciate the strong, constructive relationship we have built with the media over the years,” said Mr. Sadhwani.
“This evening’s encounter is an expression of our gratitude and an invitation to deepen our collaboration.”
In his response, Dr. Awal expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve Melcom and praised the company’s vision and consistency over the years.
“In today’s highly competitive and digitally driven market, customers have become increasingly sophisticated,” Dr. Awal noted.
“They are not just buying products—they want value, connection, and meaning.”
Dr Awal emphasised that Melcom is uniquely positioned to lead the retail market in Ghana and beyond, due to its strong brand, scale, and community focus in communications.
“I bring to Melcom years of experience in media, marketing, business development, and public service. I hope, by the grace of God, to support the company with commitment and strategy to outperform its competitors,” he pledged.
