PMI Ghana Honours Long-Standing Contributors at 2025 Loyalty Awards

Introduction

In a significant celebration of professional excellence and dedication, the Project Management Institute (PMI) Ghana Chapter successfully hosted its 2025 End-of-Year Dinner and Loyalty Awards. This prestigious event served as a platform to recognize individuals who have demonstrated unwavering commitment to the project management profession in Ghana. The ceremony was not merely a social gathering but a strategic acknowledgment of the vital role that seasoned professionals play in maturing the project delivery landscape across the nation. By honouring contributors with over a decade of service, PMI Ghana highlighted the importance of longevity, mentorship, and the continuous pursuit of excellence in the field. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the event, the key speakers, and the broader implications for the project management community in Ghana.

Key Points

Background

The Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world’s leading professional association for project management, with a global membership base and a mission to advance the practice, science, profession, and business of project management. The PMI Ghana Chapter has been instrumental in localizing these objectives within the Ghanaian context. Since its inception, the chapter has worked to build a robust community of practice, offering certification, networking, and professional development opportunities.

The “Loyalty Awards” concept is rooted in the PMI’s philosophy of recognizing not just technical success, but the human element of sustained contribution. In many professional environments, the accumulation of experience over a decade or more brings a unique perspective that is invaluable for organizational stability. The 2025 awards, therefore, served as a milestone event. It recognized the “veterans” of the industry—those who have navigated the evolution of project management methodologies from traditional Waterfall to modern Agile and Hybrid frameworks. This background is crucial because it frames the awards not just as a celebration, but as a historical marker of the profession’s growth in Ghana.

Analysis

The 2025 PMI Ghana Loyalty Awards offered profound insights into the state of the project management profession in the region. The event highlighted three critical pillars: professional sustainability, community strength, and economic impact.

The Value of Professional Sustainability

Frank Owusu-Asamoah, the President of PMI Ghana, articulated that the Loyalty Awards are a mechanism for appreciating dedicated contributors. By focusing on individuals with over 10 years of service, the organization underscores the importance of sustainability in a career. Project management is a discipline that benefits immensely from experience. The ability to foresee risks, manage complex stakeholder relationships, and navigate organizational politics is often honed over years of practice. Recognizing this longevity encourages younger professionals to view project management not as a transient role, but as a viable, long-term career path.

Strengthening the Professional Community

Benjamin Manu, CEO of Nimdier, provided a critical external perspective. He praised PMI Ghana for fostering a supportive environment that promotes continuous learning. In the fast-paced world of technology and business, stagnation is a significant risk. A strong professional body like PMI provides the necessary infrastructure for knowledge exchange. Manu’s description of PMI as a platform for “IT industry leadership and professional relevance” speaks to the evolving nature of the role. Today’s project managers are increasingly expected to be leaders in digital transformation. The community aspect of PMI is what allows professionals to stay ahead of these trends.

Economic and Organizational Impact

Perhaps the most significant takeaway from the event was the assertion that PMI’s influence extends beyond individual careers. Benjamin Manu noted that the institute contributes to advanced project delivery and organizational efficiency across both private and public sectors. This is a macro-level argument for the value of professional certification and community. When project managers adhere to standardized best practices (such as the PMBOK Guide), the likelihood of project success increases. Successful projects lead to better infrastructure, higher returns on investment for businesses, and more effective public services. Therefore, the recognition of long-standing contributors is indirectly a recognition of their contribution to Ghana’s broader economic development.

Practical Advice

Based on the insights shared by PMI Ghana leadership and industry stakeholders, here is actionable advice for project management professionals in Ghana and beyond.

How to Leverage Professional Associations for Career Growth

To emulate the success of the honourees at the 2025 Loyalty Awards, professionals should actively engage with their local PMI chapter. Membership should not be passive. Here are specific steps:

• Attend Events Regularly: Beyond the annual dinner, attend chapter meetings, webinars, and workshops. This keeps you visible and connected.
• Seek Mentorship: The awards highlighted the role of experience. Find a mentor who has been in the field for over a decade. Their insights can help you avoid common pitfalls.
• Become a Volunteer: Offering your time to the chapter (e.g., as a speaker or committee member) demonstrates leadership and commitment, which are highly valued traits.

Strategies for Long-Term Career Relevance

Benjamin Manu emphasized the need for “continuous learning.” The project management landscape is shifting towards Agile, Hybrid, and digital project management tools. To maintain relevance over a 10-year span:

• Diversify Your Skills: Do not rely solely on traditional project management certifications. Explore certifications in Agile (PMI-ACP), Disciplined Agile, or even complementary fields like Change Management.
• Focus on Soft Skills: As AI and automation handle more administrative tasks, the project manager’s role becomes more about leadership, communication, and negotiation. Hone these skills actively.
• Measure Your Impact: When possible, quantify your contributions to organizational efficiency. This data is invaluable when seeking recognition or advancement.

FAQ

Conclusion

The PMI Ghana 2025 Loyalty Awards was more than a ceremonial event; it was a testament to the enduring value of professional dedication. By honouring contributors with over a decade of service, the chapter sent a strong signal to the industry: experience matters. The insights from Benjamin Manu and Frank Owusu-Asamoah highlighted a clear trajectory for the profession—one where continuous learning, community engagement, and a focus on organizational efficiency are paramount. For project management professionals in Ghana, the message is clear. Active participation in professional bodies like PMI is not just a resume booster; it is a strategic necessity for long-term career relevance and impact. The honourees of 2025 serve as role models, demonstrating that a commitment to the craft yields benefits not only for the individual but for the entire economic ecosystem.