EMY AFRICA AWARDS 2019
The 4th Edition of Exclusive Men of the Year Africa Awards took place on Saturday the 22ndof June 2019, at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel. It rolled past its four-hour mark, live on Joy Prime and DSTV with a string of deserving winners and memorable performances.
MzzGee held the fort on the red carpet while Nathaniel Attoh leaned into his gregarious and charming presence as host for the main event. The performances were also especially strong this year. Lamisa opened the night with her single, Karika Tanka, and won over new fans. Timi Dakolo served a field knockout by staging a showstopper, whereas Cina Soul and Sollo 7 specialised in gorgeous vocal harmonies.
This year’s event was in partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society and Diaspora Affairs Office of the President, and was supported by Joy Prime, Joy News, Adom TV, DSTV, Graphic Communications Group Limited, Business and Financial Times, GhanaWeb, Enovate Advertising and Sign Language. Sponsors included Glendiffich, Silver Star Auto Ltd, Africa World Airlines, Special Ice, Allianz, Investor Hub, Ernst & Young, mPedigree, Nasco Electronics and A Rocha Ghana.
The winners of the night included:
MAN OF THE YEAR
Dr. Ernest Ofori Sarpong
He is an astute businessman with many years of experience who has employed over 2,000 personnel in about eight successful ventures. Among those successful companies are household names such as Special Ice Company Limited and United 2 Company Limited.
WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Patricia Poku-Diaby
She is the founder of Plot Enterprise Group, a wholly Ghanaian owned cocoa processing company that has market presence in Asia and West Africa. The enterprise has a plant which has an annual initial bean input capacity of 32,000 metric tonnes and has over 200 staff and exports to the USA, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu
He is the National Chief Imam, who has in the past fifteen years, pioneered the establishment of 10 educational institutions in different regions of the country. He has been involved in the establishment of institutions and organisations for providing services that address the humanitarian needs and empowerment of the Muslim youth in and outside Ghana. He is the founder of SONSET Fund and IPASEC.
MEN’S GROUP OF THE YEAR
Veterans Administration, Ghana (VAG)
This group was formed a few years after the end of the Second World War. Its ceremonial contingent has been very impressive on some national platforms and has thus become the face of veterans of Ghana and other political independence trailblazers.
MAGNATE AWARD
Daniel McKorley
He is a shipping magnate, an entrepreneur, a supply chain and logistics management expert and a philanthropist. He is also the Chairman and CEO of McDan Group of Companies, with interests in shipping and logistics, oil and gas, agriculture and real estate.
DIASPORAN AWARD
Boris Kodjoe
He is an actor who has used his influence to draw global attention to Ghana through the Full Circle Festival initiative. This undoubtedly contributed to earning Ghana 4thplace on CNN’s list of world destinations to visit in 2019.
MEDIA EXCELLENCE AWARD
Mr. Togbor Mensah
He has over thirty years’ experience in the advertising sector and is the Chairman of Integrated Marketing Communication Group in Ghana, which has DDP Outdoor Limited as a subsidiary. He is the newly elected President of the Advertising Association of Ghana.
THE SETTLER AWARD
Iyiola Ayoade
With more than 25 years working experience from Banking through advertising to Event Management and Audio-Visual Productions, Iyiola Ayoade is Group Chairman of the Multiple Concepts Group Limited; parent company of Charter House – West Africa’s leading events and TV production company headquartered in Ghana.
THE GUARDIAN AWARD
Dr. Patrick Awuah
He is the founder and President of Ashehi University College, a private, not-for-profit institution that has quickly gained a reputation for innovation and quality education in Ghana. It was ranked as one of the top ten Most Respected Companies in Ghana and was the first educational institution to win the award.
THE GREEN FINGERS AWARD (MAN OF THE YEAR – AGRICULTURE)
Richard Nunekpeku
He is the founder and Chief Farmer at Anyako Farm, a wholly Ghanaian owned farm with investments into vegetables and cereal production under irrigation.
MAN OF THE YEAR – TECHNOLOGY
Mr. Archie Hesse
He implemented Automated Clearing House System, through fintech, digitising cheque processing, mobile money interoperability, ‘e-zwich’ Biometric Smart Card Banking and retail system which is the heart of government payments in Ghana.
ASCLEPIAN AWARD (MAN OF THE YEAR – HEALTH)
Mr. Kofi Nsiah Poku
He is the founder of Kinapharma Limited, one of Ghana’s leading local manufacturers of pharmaceuticals for over-the-counter-drugs, vitamins and prescription drugs only.
THE RIG AWARD (MAN OF THE YEAR – OIL & GAS)
Kevin Okyere
He is the CEO of the first Ghanaian independent firm to lift crude oil from the TEN field (Ghana), Springfield Group. An entrepreneur, he uses his skills in business strategy, finance and negotiations to envision and execute high-end commercial and developmental projects. He sits on the board of numerous companies including Aker Solutions Ghana Limited, a joint venture between Fairfax Oilfield Services Limited, a Springfield Group Company, and Aker Solutions of Norway, a leading global provider of oil field services.
MAN OF THE YEAR – STYLE
Yofi Grant
He is the CEO of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and a man whose magnetism and good manners permeate through his work.
MAN OF COURAGE
Paul Anomah-Kordieh
He is a broadcast journalist and Disability Right Advocate. Paul heads the National Resource Centre for Children with Disabilities as the Executive Director and is leading a national effort for the implementation of the Inclusive Education Policy through the “Model School Project” and the establishment of the “Ghana Alliance for Inclusive Education”.
LEGEND AWARD
Amakye Dede
He dominated the highlife scene in the 80’s, 90’s and continues to enjoy airplay globally. He is a multiple award-winning music maestro with an extremely successful career spanning over 40 years.
COMMONWEALTH DEVELOPMENT AWARD
British High Commission, Accra
The British High Commission Accra – is the principal driver of the UK Government’s work in Ghana. Rooted in longstanding cultural, social, political and economic connections, the High Commission engages on a range of policy issues which have a particular focus on prosperity, security and development in Ghana. Over the years, their work has evolved to reflect their vibrant and growing partnership with Ghana, celebrated during various state visits including the visit of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex and Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt to Ghana in recent months. The UK continues to renew its partnership with Ghana, exemplified in the signing of the Joint Declaration – A strategic partnership that will deepen and strengthen their existing ties and open up new areas for co-operation.
THE A ROCHA GHANA GREEN CORPORATE STAR AWARD
Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC
Guinness Ghana Breweries Plc is the leading total beverage business in Ghana with 24 different brands. Guinness Ghana Breweries Plc, prides itself as a sustainable business that is committed to achieving its water targets aimed at driving real change for the environment, the economy, and the communities they operate in. Guinness Ghana is also showing leadership by reducing its environmental impacts by making its products and business operations more environmental sustainably. The parent organisation, Diageo, has outlined a commitment to minimize the negative environmental impact associated with the irresponsible disposal of plastic straws. In Ghana, Guinness Ghana is one of the leading Beverage Companies rallying corporate efforts to progressively address the menace of plastics in our environment.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD FOR ADVERTISING AND MARKETING
Joel Nettey
He is a savvy and well-acclaimed Management, Marketing and Marketing Communications expert is the Founder and Chief Executive of the Ninani Group, a group of Marketing Communications Specialist Companies that include Innova DDB Ghana, ReZultz Advertising, Touchpoint Magna Carta, Interactive Digital, Brand Alert in Ghana as well as Innova Liberia.
YOUNG ACHIEVER – MALE
Sangu Delle
He is an investor, entrepreneur, activist and lawyer. He is the co-founder and Managing Director of Africa Health Holdings, an innovative company based in West Africa, focused on building Africa’s healthcare future. He is also the co-founder of Cleanacwa, a non-profit organisation working in underdeveloped communities in Ghana to make sure that water and sanitation, basic human rights, are provided.
YOUNG ACHIEVER – FEMALE
Dentaa Amoateng MBE
She is an altruistic individual who has positively influenced many through her work with the GUBA Enterprise – GUBA Awards, GUBA Expo, GUBA Foundation, GUBA Careers and GUBA USA. The GUBA brand is recognised as an organisation for African Empowerment.
THE PAV ANSAH COMMUNICATOR AWARD
Giovani Caleb
He is an award-winning media personality. Over the years, Giovani has carved a niche for himself in the media and showbiz industry with his versatile presentation skills.
MAN OF THE YEAR – ENTERTAINMENT
Louis Lamis
He is a Ghanaian film and stage director, inspirational speaker and acting coach and the CEO of the company, Liezer Legacy that produces Kejetia vs Makola, a courtroom TV Sitcom. He was recognised as the most prolific and consistent personality in the entertainment industry in the year under review.
MAN OF THE YEAR – SPORTS
Ezekiel Nana Ziggy Ansah
He is a Ghanaian-born American football defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He also has a foundation, the “Ezekiel Ansah Foundation” which is aimed at promoting Physical Education in the public sector schools in Ghana as a whole. He set up a camp for close to 500 of Ghana’s youth to teach them the basics of American football.
DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR
Kofi Genfi
He is part of a duo that founded CYST, a software innovation company that specialises in artificial intelligence to create technology solutions. CYST’s flagship product, Mazzuma, is a mobile money payment system that utilises distributed secure infrastructure and cryptocurrency to enable seamless payments.
BRAND OF THE YEAR
Adepa Shoes
Adepa shoes are made in Ghana shoes that demystify luxurious bespoke shoes. The brand was recognised as an African brand that has a male brand positioning and is a champion in its industry category based on the current year market prominence and consumer preference.
