Ghana Energy Awards
The Ghana Energy Awards is organising a media launch of the third edition of the Awards on Wednesday July 31, 2019 at the Challenge House, Abelemkpe, Accra to unveil the theme for this year’s awards and open nominations for the various categories for prospective candidates.
Scheduled for the last Friday of every November, the Awards scheme, aimed to acknowledge the efforts and hard work of individuals and organisations in the country’s energy sector, is endorsed by the Ministry of Energy and World Energy Council, Ghana and has Mazars Ghana as its validators.
Henry Teinor and Nicholas Frimpong-Manso, organisers of the awards note that the third edition of the awards will be exciting as major stakeholders in the industry are going to be part of the entire award process.
“I can assure the public that candidates who win will be deserving, as we have broadened the judging spectrum. We have decided to involve most industry players in the process,” said Mr Teinor.
He said the Organising Committee decided to do the launch three clear months to the event so that prospective candidates will have ample time to gather their documents and evidences to support their applications.
“We are watching out for projects, new deals, strategic achievements of companies in the sector. We are also looking out for organisations that ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards.
“To this end, we consult with industry regulators, that is, the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum Commission, Energy Commission and the NPA as well as industry associations such as the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors and the Association of Oil Marketing Companies to ascertain which companies are doing things the right way so that we get the proof of proper conduct from the regulators. Those who are treading the right way and not cheating the public to make their gains, those are the candidates we consider,” he added.
This, he said, indicates the proof of the thoroughness of the awarding process, as such judging is keen. As part of activities toward the 2019 event, visits will be paid to project sites indicated by nominees for assessment by the awarding panel, especially for the CSR category.
Some categories of the awards are the apex awards - Energy Personality of the Year, both male and female categories. Madam Kate Papafio, Chief Executive of Reroy Group and Dr Alfred Ofosu Ahenkorah, Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, took home the awards for both categories respectively at the maiden event in 2017 while Dr Antwi-Darkwa, Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority and Madam Abigail Ansolange Harlley, Chief Executive of AI Group also received the apex award at the second event of the awards.
Other prominent categories include the Rising star award, Energy Reporter, Energy Institution, Energy efficient organization of the year, among others. There are also Non-Competitive awards. A joint award in this category was given to the Attorney General, Madam Gloria Akufo and the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akufo in 2017 for their efforts toward achieving the ITLOS ruling in Ghana’s favour. At the 2018 event, Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata and Dr Wereko-Brobbey also received the awards for their respective roles in the country’s upstream and power sectors during their service to the country.
Dr Kwame Ampofo, the Chairman of the Awarding Panel said the Awards, in principle, is to honour hardworking players in the energy sector as well as promote competition and quality service.
He said according to plan, each succeeding year of the award scheme is expected to better organised in terms of quality delivery, attendance, assessment of nominees which totally transparent and a reflection of happenings in the industry.
The event in 2018 was far larger, he said, in terms of attendance, publicity and over all organisation, however, this year, “we are expecting and working toward a better event in all regards,” he added.
According to the Chairman of Awarding Panel, the Ghana Energy Awards is considered by industry players and regulators as truly the ‘Mother of all awards’ in the country’s energy sector. Innovative awards such as the special Non-Competitive category which both previous editions have been received by noble personalities make the awards scheme unique and separate it from all other awards.
“This year, we will be featuring a special set of awards, similar to the non-competitive awards, for high-level performers in the country whose patriotism and efforts have moved the country and for that matter the Energy sector forward. This set of awards is non-political but for politicians who have toiled to move the country ahead, and these are personalities who the whole country will attest that they deserve the awards,” Dr Ampofo said.
From prospective nominees, Dr Ampofo expects them to continue with their efforts and ensure keen competition among themselves. He also expects more companies to participate in this year’s awards with a show of competitive attitude through their business, safety, local content and in the output of their operations.
