…34 individuals, companies honoured
The prestigious Ghana Energy Awards 2023 edition has recognised a total 34 individuals and companies with various honours for outstanding roles and contributions toward growth of the country’s energy sector in an elaborate ceremony held in Accra on Friday, November 17, 2023.
Organised by the Energy Media Group (EMG), this year’s event – 7th of the series since its inception in 2017 – was under the theme ‘Ghana’s Energy Transition Framework: Sector Institutions as Building Blocks for the 2030 -2040 Targets. Endorsed by the Ministry of Energy and World Energy Council Ghana, the event emphasised different sector agencies’ strategic roles in achieving national energy transition objectives.
President Nana Akufo-Addo graced the ceremony as special guest of honour, with the energy sector’s finest in attendance.
Appearance
The 7th GEA featured a host of high-profile dignitaries in attendance: including the World Energy Council Vice Chair for Africa and Secretary General-Africa Petroleum Producers Organisation, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim (virtual presence); Deputy Minister of Energy, Andrew Egyapa Mercer; Chief Executive Officer-Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), Monie R. Captan; members from the diplomatic community, including the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Berenice Owen-Jones; Vice Chair-Public Services Commission, Dr. Stella Agyenim-Boateng; representatives from the African Union, Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) among other distinguished personalities.
Commendation
In his keynote address, the president congratulated Energy Media Group, organiser of the awards, for its ingenuity in putting together such a unique platform recognising and celebrating the innovation and excellence of agencies in a sector that is crucial to development of the country – particularly acknowledging contributions helping to achieve government’s vision of a robust energy sector.
President Akufo-Addo also commended the Minister of Energy and Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Dr. Matthew Poku Prempeh – whose exemplary leadership, he said, is helping to sustain growth in the sector and its value chain through sound policy direction.
For Deputy Minister of Energy, Andrew Egyapa Mercer – who spoke on behalf of Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Ghana Energy Awards is an important date in the energy sector calendar as it is an initiative that seamlessly complements the ministry’s efforts in developing the industry. According to him, the energy ministry is poised to propel the country to meet its energy target of using power from clean and efficient energy sources.
Chief Executive Officer-Liberia Electricity Corporation, Monie Captan, also applauded Ghana Energy Awards for organising the event, which he said is consequential as a propeller to the energy industry’s growth and motivator for a highly competitive sector.
Role of institutions in energy transition
President Akufo-Addo, in his keynote address, underscored the various sector institutions’ importance in realising the country’s energy transition targets, and called on industry stakeholders to commit themselves to government’s plans for an equitable transition that fully utilises Ghana’s natural energy sources and energy efficiency.
Speaking on the event’s theme, he noted that it is essentially about the country’s future and how stakeholders can work together to protect it: “It is a theme that resonates with me, because it touches the core of our very survival as a nation”.
Ghana, he said, is a signatory to the Paris Agreement on climate change. “This means that we have committed ourselves to lowering our greenhouse emissions in respect to the effect of climate change, while ensuring that our development and the well-being of our people are not jeopardised”.
In this respect, he said, he outdoored the Ghana Energy Transition Investment Plan that spells out a reasonable path for Ghana to attain net zero energy-related carbon emissions by 2060.
According to him, the plan (which he described as a living document) “will be reviewed regularly and evaluated to ensure it remains relevant and responsive to our changing circumstances and goals”. The ambitious national framework is anticipated to require US$550billion over the next 40 years – about ten per cent of the country’s annual GDP.
Recognising excellence and innovation
Chairman-GEA Awards panel, Kwame Jantuah, explained that the theme for this year’s event, chosen in consultation with the ministry, is a reflection of the country’s energy focus for the coming decades; and assured that the Ghana Energy Awards will support the transition process.
Meanwhile, Event Director-GEA, Henry Teinor, noted that the awards initiative aims to recognise the excellence and innovations of individuals and organisations who are shaping Ghana’s energy sector. The event’s platform, he added, further promotes the industry’s operations for an overall improvement in the national economy.
BOST bags awards
The Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation Limited Company (BOST) took away two prestigious awards from the Ghana Energy Awards seventh edition.
At an event held last Friday, at the Labadi Beach Hotel, the company was pronounced Petroleum Company of the Year while its CEO Mr. Edwin Alfred Provencal emerged as Energy Personality of the Year.
President Akufo-Addo praised the entities and personalities which emerged winners for their wonderful contributions toward advancing the company’s energy sector – which is a major catalyst for any real economic progression.
Interacting with media on the event’s sidelines, Mr. Provencal praised the company’s board and management team for their wonderful contributions toward turning around the company’s fortunes. He assured that there is no turning back, and state-owned enterprises have what it takes to be profitable – as evidenced by the performance of BOST over the last couple of years.
In other news, the company also won the SSI Sustainability and Operational Excellence award at the Sustainability and Social Investments Awards held at the Kempinski Gold Coast City Hotel on Friday.
The count seems not to end, as the company is awash with recognition on both the domestic and international fronts for its wonderful turnaround under the leadership of Edwin Alfred Provencal.
Winners
The 2023 GEA featured 24 competitive categories and seven honours in the non-competitive section. At its climax, the Managing Director-Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST) bagged the coveted Energy Personality of the Year award in the male category; while Pecan Energies Ghana Chief Executive Officer, Kadijah Amoah, took the same apex award in the female category. Chief Executive-Ghana National Gas Company, Dr. Ben K. D. Asante emerged CEO of the Year in the Petroleum category; with the Managing Director-Electricity Company of Ghana, Kwame Agyeman-Budu, taking the same award in the Power category.
In the non-competitive section, the Energy Commission’s former Executive Secretary, Dr. Alfred Ofosu-Ahenkorah, received the Lifetime Achievement honour; while CEO-Liberia Electricity Corporation, Monie R. Captan, was bestowed with the West Africa Leadership Excellence award.
To cap the 2023 Ghana Energy Awards ceremony, Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, Chief Executive-Volta River Authority, was inducted into the GEA Hall of Fame after having won the Energy Personality of the Year award three times: 2018, 2021 and 2022.
Below is the full list of winners:
Competitive Categories
Energy Personality of the Year (Male) – Edwin Provencal, Managing Director-BOST
Energy Personality of the Year (Female) – Kadijah Amoah, Chief Executive Officer-Pecan Energies Ghana
CEO of the Year (Power) – Samuel Dubik Masubir Mahama, Managing Director-ECG
CEO of the Year (Petroleum) – Dr Ben K. D. Asante, Chief Executive Officer-Ghana National Gas Company
Energy Company of the Year (Power) – Ghana Grid Company
Energy Company of the Year (Petroleum) – Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company
Energy Company of the Year (Renewable) – Meinergy Technology
Energy Institution of the Year – Energy Commission
Energy Transition Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award – Dr. Ben K. D. Asante, Chief Executive Officer-Ghana National Gas Company
Rising Star Individual – Bradley Poku Amankwah, Principal Coordinator (Acting)-Ghana Energy Transition Office, Sustainable Energy for All
Rising Star Company – Cubica Energy
Green Chief Trailblazer Award – Wisdom Ahiataku-Togobo, Director (Renewable Energy)-Bui Power Authority
Energy Signature Award – Thomas Manu, Board Member-GOIL PLC
Visionary Leadership Award – Ing Oscar Amonoo-Neizer, Executive Secretary-Energy Commission
Innovative Project of the Year – Public Utilities Regulatory Commission
Energy Reporter of the Year – Emmanuel Aboagye-Wiafe (Asaase Radio)
Energy Think-Tank of the Year – Africa Centre for Energy Policy
Energy Advocate of the Year – Benjamin Boakye, Executive Director-Africa Centre for Energy Policy
Health, Safety and Environment Excellence Award – Tullow Ghana
Excellence in Power Generation – Takoradi International Company
Clean Energy Initiative of the Year – Bui Power Authority
Energy Investment Impact Award – Japan International Cooperation Agency
Off-Grid Energy Solution of the Year – Dutch & Co
Energy Access Leadership Award – African Development Bank
RE Infrastructure Project of the Year – Bui Power Authority
Diversification Pioneer Award – TotalEnergies Marketing Ghana PLC
Brand of the Year – PETROSOL Ghana
Corporate Social Responsibility of the Year – Volta River Authority
Non-Competitive Categories
Women In Energy Excellence Award – Ing Sophie Abena Tijani, FGHIE, Vice President-Ghana Institution of Engineering
Lifetime Achievement Award – Dr. Alfred Ofosu-Ahenkorah, former Executive Secretary-Energy Commission
Exemplary Leadership Award – Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Chief Executive-National Petroleum Authority
Osagyefo Young Leadership Award – Dr. Bright Mawuko Sogbadji – Deputy Director Power (Nuclear and Renewable Energy)-Ministry of Energy
West Africa Exceptional Leadership Award – Hon Monie R. Captan, Liberia Electricity Corporation
Ghana Energy Awards (GEA) Hall of Fame – Ing Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, Chief Executive-Volta River Authority
Transformational Business Excellence Award – Joseph Kweku Horgle, Chief Executive Officer-JK Horgle Transport and Company.
