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The hands-on head of ‘On the Road’ charity in Accra, Ghana has been voted SDLG Most Reliable Person in Africa.

The final phase in construction equipment manufacturer SDLG’s search for the most reliable person in Africa – driven by voting on the SDLG website and Facebook page – has seen a social campaigner running the ‘On the Road’ charity in Ghana voted the winner in this year’s competition. Kofi AmigostenAmoah swept other finalists aside by taking 53% of the votes, boosted by the relentless energy he exerts towards his good causes. In recognition of his victory, SDLG and its Ghanaian dealer SMT will now work alongside Kofi to support a project of his choosing, supplying SDLG construction equipment, building expertise and funding.

Additional to his Most Reliable Person Award and in recognition of his ‘On the Road’ organization, Kofi (left) was presented with a new motorcycle by managing director of the SMT dealership in Ghana, Denis Pylyser. SMT is the sole distributor of SDLG Equipment in Ghana and provides full service and spares support to customers throughout the country.

Hands-on helper

The ‘On the Road’ charity in Ghana is a force for good that stems from Kofi’s passion for his beloved motorcycle. He can often be found loading his bike with everything from food for the hungry to chalk for schools – which he then delivers all over Ghana helping those in need.

With a background in social work, Kofi uses his journeys to educate those he meets about social inclusion. “Disability, for example, carries a dreadful stigma here, whereby families may even neglect their own,” says Kofi. “I use my travels to encourage people to support the handicapped.”

While on these travels Kofi has also seen how dangerous the roads can be. “I have witnessed many accidents and as a result I feel compelled to be a voice for road safety,” he says. He now often discusses this issue with the authorities and other road users. “It is all about being informed. I am a great believer that with knowledge we can make a difference; we can make our roads safer.”

Speaking at a presentation held at the SMT dealership in the capital Accra, Kofi said that winning is incredible and gives recognition to the work he's doing. “The work that’s dearest to me is fronting social development here in Ghana, supporting children who face disability or suffer extreme poverty and helping inform people about road safety,” he said. “This SDLG Most Reliable Person in Africa competition has already given my work and that of my fellow finalists hugely important exposure, both here on the African continent and well beyond our shores.”

Kofi AmigostenAmoah receives the certificate confirming him as the SDLG Most Reliable Person in Africa from Magnus Rieger, SDLG marketing communications manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Like the G9190, the B877 backhoe loader has continued to spread its appeal regionally, it launched into the Middle East in 2014 and then into Africa in 2015 when SDLG announced that its dealer, Babcock International, will distribute the unit in South Africa. The machine’s powerful turbo-charged 70 kW engine is low on emissions, and high on fuel economy and provides a torque reserve of 40%. With its hydraulic torque converter and synchronized four-speed transmission, the B877 can reach speeds of up to 40 km/h.

Yu Mengsheng, president at Lingong, said the company was looking forward to presenting SDLG to the international equipment market at bauma 2016. “SDLG is growing consistently and with good pace as we continue to build our international presence,” he says. “Several of our most popular models have been rolled out to major markets in recent months. As SDLG continues to develop in key regions, the company will rely even more on its strong sales network. The robust and reliable design of our machines, sold at competitive prices, makes them ideal for helping SDLG to grow its customer base. The bauma 2016 exhibition in Munich will give us the perfect opportunity to showcase the breadth of the SDLG range — from our popular wheel loaders, to our motor graders and backhoe loaders, which are also in high-demand. I’m looking forward to meeting SDLG’s customers and partners at the show.”

In addition to the L959F wheel loader, the B877 backhoe loader and the G9190 motor grader, SDLG’s full product line up at bauma will include the L968F and L948 wheel loaders; the E635F, LG6210E and LG6360E excavators; and the RD730 and RS7120 road rollers. The range can be found at SDLG’s outdoor booth FS 1105/7.