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.