A & C Development chairman makes Ghana proud
He built his first house at the age of 26 and at 68, Mr Andrew Kwabena Asamoah, Executive Chairman of A & C Development Co. Ltd, which owns the A & C Shopping Mall (now A&C Square) at East Legon in Accra, is nowhere near taking a break from getting structures off the ground.
A former World Health Organisation (WHO) director, Mr Asamoah had to brace enormous risk and defy various advice that malls would not do well in Ghana to construct the first landmark shopping mall in the country, the A&C Shopping Mall, which today has many other facilities.
Being a monument with astronomical investment, constructing the mall was not attractive even to the financial services sector and it took the tenacity and leadership of Mr Asamoah to get the facility off the ground.
The executive chairman, therefore, went by a prudent plan to build the facility in phases; the main mall with a car park and children’s playground; a fitness centre with an Olympic-size swimming pool, and two office blocks in two phases.
Not only did the facility put the country on the world stage, it brought a befitting status to the country as a growing economy with a growing middle class. Today, not only has the Andrew and Cecilia (A&C) Development Co he found making inroads in the real estate and consumer shopping sub-sectors, the Capital Finance International – a reputable print journal and online resource reporting on business, economics and finance – has awarded Mr Asamoah with the Corporate Leadership Award for 2013.
CFI (Capital Finance International) provides news, analysis and commentary on the markets worldwide.
The award
He was awarded alongside reputable world leading brands and companies such as the Mahindra Group; Century Properties Group in the Philippines; the British top real estate law team, BLP, as well as other companies and individuals across Africa and the emerging economies.
The CFI said in its citation that: “We receive many nominations of worthy individuals and companies for the consideration of our judging panel but only rarely do we come across such highly impassioned nominations as those this year naming Andy Kwabena Asamoah.”
“His achievements stand out as an example of what tenacity can deliver and his life story provides inspiration to others of what can be achieved through hard work, education and ambition,” the cited added.
Mr Asamoah told the GRAPHIC BUSINESS that “I was surprised when I received a call from CFI informing me about the award because I did not even know when I got nominated.”
He added that it was very fulfilling and pleasant to see that following one’s passion was being recognised internationally.
He therefore feels that the award is not for him alone, but that of his team, as well as the entire country, as the positive contributions to the economy are being duly recognised internationally.
A&C Shopping Mall
Andy is a brick-and-mortar sort of person, who likes everything construction, real estate, explaining his passion to build his first house at age 26, to fulfil a desire to move his parents from a rented apartment into one they could call their own.
A&C Development is a fast growing real estate and construction company which is building properties in many parts of the capital city, its flagship being the shopping mall.
In line with his philosophy to keep improving services and facilities on the premises to “wow” patrons of the mall, the company is continuously developing structures, improving services and transforming the place to attract customers.
A&C Development has completed the construction of phase two fitness centre and swimming pool and a third phase business plaza. The final phase four, a combination of an upscale retail and office plaza, is expected to be completed next year. The expansion includes an underground car park.
Already, the company’s office and residential properties at East Legon, Dzorwulu and other parts of the city are at different stages of development.
Career
After obtaining a General Certificate of Education (G.C.E.) Ordinary Level and RSA certificate from Ghana, Mr Asamoah qualified as a lawyer and obtained certificates in public relations, journalism and many other disciplines from other jurisdictions.
Mr Asamoah has had a fruitful career with the World Health Organisation (WHO), which started at a prime age of 22. His work within the WHO has taken him to the WHO Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, Nigeria right up to the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
His hard work at WHO saw him rise through the ranks into various positions, including Chief of Personnel; Special Adviser to the Director-General of WHO on Constitutional Reforms and Regional Arrangements and Director, Career Development Service/Global Security Coordinator.
He retired as the Director of Administration and Finance at the Regional WHO Office for Europe in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Vision and outlook
Mr Asamoah told the GRAPHIC BUSINESS that the company had secured a land to develop a restaurant bazaar, which would house all major restaurants from those offering local cuisines to continental and oriental dishes.
A&C Shopping mall, now rebranded as A&C Square, would also extend to Kumasi after its Accra expansion works.