Dr Mrs Grace Amey-Obeng, CEO of FC Beauty Group of Companies has lamented the heavy toll of the recent economic crisis on her business empire.
The founder and leader of the nation’s top beauty and cosmetics conglomerate
has said she had closed a large percent of her enterprises, affecting many of
her staff in drastic measures to help stay afloat within the current global
economic challenges.
Dr Amey-Obeng made the revelation in Ho when she delivered an address at a
memorial lecture to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the demise of
President John Evans Atta Mills, which was held at the Cedi Auditorium of the
University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS).
“I have closed 80 per cent of my businesses, and I have laid off 70 per cent of
staff. We are now working three days a week. The situation is too stressful.
“We want our Ghana back. This is not the Ghana we want. We cannot be paying
people for no work done,” she lamented.
The Group CEO, who had worked with the late President on several women’s support
initiatives, said he would be remembered for his support for the development of
the gender, and which she noted was evident in several top women appointments
he made while in office.
She said the nation’s ability or inability to celebrate its heroes affected its
advancement and urged all to emulate the all-loving nature of Prof. Mills.
“In these times, the old President is like Christ,” Dr Amey-Obeng stated.
The memorial lecture was organised by the JEA Mills Memorial Heritage, and was
titled “The Man John Evans Atta Mills, Ten Years On.”
It was attended by past and present political leaders, traditional leaders,
students, and the public.
Professor Fred Newton Binka, Foundation Vice Chancellor of UHAS advocated
renaming the University after the late President.
He said the unfading legacy of President Mills, who died in office in July
2012, should be cemented to guide the nation it’s to dreams of development and
transformation, and that the University he passionately established would be
best to honour him in the name.
“The legacy of Professor Mills is so critical and important in today’s Ghana,”
he said while eulogising the memory of the late President in layers of praise.
Alex Segbefia, Chairman of the memorial heritage, said it was established as a
“nonprofit, non-partisan, independent organisation” aimed at preserving and
promoting the ideologies of Prof. Mills.
“We work and incorporate the values and principles that President ills lived
for,” he said.
The event had poetry recitals and cultural displays, and a video documentary
displaying his legacy was screened.
A book named “Atta Mills Speaks”, which carries his speeches, including State
of the Nation Addresses he delivered, was launched and auctioned at the event.
Source: GNA