At a media event and nomination opening in Accra with the topic "Global Decarbonization: A Just and Equitable Energy Transition in Ghana," the Ghana Energy Awards (GEA) officially opened nominations.
The awards programme, which is run by the Energy Media Group (EMG) in collaboration with GP Business Consulting, honours organisations and individuals in the nation's energy industry for their innovation and achievement.
In his welcoming remarks, Ing. Henry Teinor, the CEO of EMG and the GEA's event director, highlighted that the ceremony was to reveal the topic for this year's event and formally open nominations for all participants in the nation's energy industry to compete in several prize categories.
According to tradition established by the awards programme, "the Ghana Energy Awards subject is a reflection of the most relevant dialogue in the energy industry in Ghana, with a worldwide perspective," he stated. As a result, for this 2022 event, the Awards Secretariat and the Awarding Panel engaged the sector Ministry to have the theme aligned to the country's position on the ongoing discussion on the country's energy transition in response to the Energy Minister's request to be part of the theme selection process.
Lawyer Kwame Jantuah, Chairman of the GEA Awarding Panel and Energy Consultant, said in his keynote address that the topic this year reflects current global events and the president's speech at the COP26 where he had said Ghana will fight climate change while still safeguarding its prosperity. The nation, according to President Akufo-Addo, recognises the significance and consequences of climate change as well as the urgent need to battle it. However, it is equally important to safeguard the nation's growth. Because of this, a balance between the nation's social, economic, and environmental imperatives must be found and maintained.
The chairman of the awarding panel stated that the subject for this year is also consistent with Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, the energy minister, launching Ghana's Energy Transition Policy at the Energy Ministry. Therefore, he asserted, it is clear that candidates' efforts may benefit in the nation's transformation.
"Our job is to evaluate how our nominees have struck the delicate balance between Climate Change, Environmental Pollution, and Energy Transition vis-à-vis their normal operations and whether these changes will continue to protect and expand the country's development, or whether their quest to achieve this balance through their operations will or has adversely affected the country's development," he noted.
There are 23 categories in total for GEA 2022, 19 of which are competitive and four of which are non-competitive. These categories include Energy Personality of the Year (Male and Female), CEO of the Year (Power and Petroleum), Energy Institution of the Year, Brand of the Year, Rising Star Award, Energy Think-Tank of the Year, Innovation Project of the Year, Excellence in Power Generation, Women in Energy Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award, among others.
Additionally, five new categories have been added this year in keeping with the theme: Novel Deployment of RE Technology Award, Outstanding Energy Management Award, Sustainable Energy Partnership Award, and Visionary Leadership Award.
Dr. Robert Sogbadji, Deputy Director of Power, Ministry of Energy, spoke on behalf of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Energy, and said that the subject is appropriate since it supports the Ministry's objective and would thus significantly hasten Ghana's energy transformation. The Energy Transition Committee has been established in the meantime to help with this course of action. He emphasised the Ministry's dedication and support for the GEA effort once more.
The Media Launch is the first in a number of events leading up to the main event. The Energy Personalities Outreach Programme, Courtesy Calls on business partners, Site Visitations to nominees' projects sites, and others provide apex award recipients the chance to engage with students at certain second cycle universities.
The Volta River Authority, Bui Power Authority, Ghana Gas, Meinergy Technology, Sunon Asogli Power, GOIL, Energy Commission, COPEC Ghana, and Hendan Transport & Logistics are some of the business partners for the GEA 2022.
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