Business magnate, Sir Sam Jonah was crowned the Ultimate Man of the Year on Saturday, November 22, at the 10th anniversary of the Exclusive Men of the Year (EMY) Africa Awards.
Sir Sam Jonah was honoured for his global leadership in mining, corporate governance and his long-standing advocacy for ethical leadership. His recognition set the tone for an evening that highlighted integrity, purpose and transformative influence.
He is widely credited with transforming Ashanti Goldfields Corporation (AGC) from a state-owned mining entity into a global industry leader, making it the first Ghanaian and second African company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 1996. The achievement cemented Ghana’s profile on the global business stage.
Beyond his work in mining, Sir Sam Jonah has earned a strong reputation as a champion of transparent and accountable governance. His recent public addresses, many of which have criticised corruption and urged ethical leadership, have resonated across Ghana’s political and professional spheres.
His influence extends across multiple sectors, having served on the boards of international institutions such as Vodafone Group, Ecobank Group and the International Crisis Group.
In his acceptance speech, he paid tribute to the many individuals who shaped his journey.
“To the team at EMY Africa, for a decade, you have curated a culture of honour. This award, therefore, is not a monument to an individual. Indeed, it is a tribute to every teacher who shaped me, every miner who risked his life underground working with me, every colleague who refused to settle for mediocrity and every Ghanaian and African who gets up every morning determined to make life a little better than it was yesterday,” he said.
“I don’t see this award as a culmination. I see it as a call, a call to keep contributing, a call to keep mentoring, and a call to keep insisting that Africa’s best is still ahead.”
This year’s ceremony, held at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) under the theme “Celebrating the Legacy,” recognised more than 20 distinguished individuals whose achievements continue to inspire excellence across Africa and the diaspora.
Since its inception in 2016, the EMY Africa Awards has become one of the continent’s most respected recognition platforms, honouring influential figures in business, culture, sports, public service and the creative industries.
The awards feature both competitive and honorary categories. Competitive winners are selected through a combination of jury assessment and public or peer voting, while honorary awardees are chosen by the EMY Africa Faculty for their lasting impact and pioneering contributions.
Other honourees this year included business mogul Dr Osei Kwame Despite, former Black Stars captain Tony Baffoe, COA Healthcare Centre CEO Dr Samuel Ato Duncan, football legend Marcel Desailly, Bills and Quick Angels founder Richard Nii Armah Quaye, music star King Promise, South African actor Thapelo Mokoena, and cinematographer Rev. Dr Chris Hesse.
The 2025 EMY Africa Awards ended with a renewed call to celebrate, empower and invest in African excellence for the next decade and beyond.
![President John Dramani Mahama [left], Alexander Lukashenko, President of the Republic of Belarus [right]](https://www.citinewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/belarus-8-350x250.jpeg)
