Organisers of the Ghana Energy Awards (GEA) has officially opened nominations for the 2021 edition, under the theme: “Digitalised energy sector: the key for a resilient economic future.”
Launched in Accra, the 5th edition features 19 competitive categories: Energy Personality of the Year (male and female); Chief Executive of the Year (Petroleum and Power); Energy Institution of the Year; Brand of the Year; Energy Company of the Year; Rising Star Award; Excellence in Power Generation and; Emerging Energy Company of the Year.
Others include: Innovation Project of the Year; Energy Reporter of the Year; Corporate Social Responsibility of the Year; Clean Energy Initiative of the Year; Off-Grid Energy Solution of the Year and; Energy Consultancy Service Organisation of the Year.
Characteristic of the awards scheme, each year sees the introduction of new categories that cater for the changing phase of the industry. This year has five new categories added: Digital Impact Leadership Award, Outstanding Contribution to Digitalisation, Exceptional Digital Management Award, Digitalisation Project of the Year, and Excellence in Digital Service Delivery.
Kwame Jantuah, an energy consultant and Chairman of the awards panel, speaking at the launch noted that a huge fallout of the pandemic has been the global inventiveness of computerization and digitalisation which are constantly changing how business is presently being conducted.
“Equally, this is beginning to have a huge impact on the energy industry worldwide in terms of its operations with new technology. Specifically, we are observing in the power sector new forms of generating, recording and monitoring power, a case in point being how the renewable sector is fast overtaking the conventional generation and delivery of power,” he said, adding that advanced technologies, including electric vehicles and AI, are contributing to such monumental change.
In Ghana, government has focused its strength on promoting digitalisation and related technologies across all industries within the economic spectrum, consequently putting together programmes for digitalisation of the energy sector. The need to acknowledge how the energy industry in the country is embracing these crucial changes is why the GEA is dedicating this year’s awards to recognise digitalisation efforts in the country.
Organised by the Energy Media Group in partnership with GP Business Consult, the Ghana Energy Awards is an industry-accepted initiative that recognises the innovation and excellence of institutions within the energy sector and also celebrates the hard work of players who compete under various categories of the awards.
The scheme is fully endorsed by the Ministry of Energy and the World Energy Council Ghana, with firm support from industry partners; VRA, Bui Power, Ghana Gas, Energy Commission, CBOD, Petroleum Commission, AOMC, NPA, COPEC-Ghana, and validating partners Mazars.
Ing. Henry Tenior, the event organiser, at the launch, said it had been an interesting journey since the first event in 2017. “We have come this far by the grace of the Almighty God, and on the wings of a dedicated Secretariat and Awards Panel, a transparent awards process, staunch support from the Ministry and allied agencies as well as our devoted sponsors who understand our vision and purpose.”
Nominations are currently open from now until October 20, 2021. Further information on the application process is available on www.ghanaenergyawards.com
From now till the closing of nominations, the Awards Secretariat will pay courtesy calls on various stakeholders in the industry for briefing on their activities for the 2020-2021 review period. The awards panel will also go round to inspect projects and innovative solutions cited by the nominees at their project sites. This activity is to acquaint the panel with these projects and the magnitude of their impact.
Within this period also, there will be the Energy Personalities Outreach Programme, a key activity of the GEA that provides the highest awardees – both male and female Energy Personality of the Year – the opportunity to interact with students of selected academic institutions to share their experiences with the younger generation.
