The two: Rashid Adjei Laryea, of the Accra Branch of Toyota Ghana and Enoch Ewuusi Wilson from the Company’s Kumasi Branch, emerged winners of the two categories in the contest –Service Advisor and General Technician.

The Toyota National Skills Contest is an annual championship event globally, which seeks to test the skills and competencies of the Company’s Technicians and Service Advisors, to assess their proficiency in quality service delivery.

The objective is to strengthen Toyota After-Sales service and also improve the human resource of the country.

Mr Takuya Kajiura, the Managing Director of Toyota Ghana Company Limited, in his welcome address at the finals, said Human Resource was the most asset of Toyota Ghana hence the need to improve staff skills was a necessity.

“In line with these beliefs, Toyota Ghana initiated the Skills Contest about eight years ago,” he said.

Mr Kajiura announced that as a result of collective efforts by staff and the spirit of continuous improvement, Toyota Ghana had received Outstanding Customer Service Award from Toyota Motor Corporation and it was the fifth continuous time that Toyota Ghana had received the special honourable award.

In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations congratulated Toyota Ghana for the bold step and being a flagship organisation in automobile industry in Ghana.

“Toyota Ghana as an organisation is showing an act of faith by creating opportunities for further education and enhancement of their skills to improve customer delivery,” he said.

He called on Toyota Ghana and other motor industries to offer attachment opportunities to products of the National Vocational Training Institute when they are through with their career training programmes.

This year’s contest brought together contestants from the Toyota branches across the country. In all, 12 finalists, comprising six General Technicians and six Service Advisors were shortlisted for the final contest.

Other package for the first winners included a cash prize of GH? 4,500 each, a voucher of GH? 2,500 each, and a trophy each.

Other winners included Mutaru Abdul-Rahman of the Body and Paint branch who was the first runner up in the Service Advisor category whilst Emmanuel Danso of the Accra Branch was the first runner up in the General Technician category.

Elorm Kwaku Edekor of the Tarkwa branch was the second runner up in the Service Advisor category whilst Edmund Pepprah of the Kumasi branch was the second runner up in the General Technician category.

Kingsley Antwi of the Kumasi branch, Emmanuel Boadi and John Kwofie both of the Tarkwa branch were awarded consolation prize of GHc 1,000.