GPA Awards Seeks Professional & Business People

Organisers of the 5th Annual GPA Awards for Ghana's Professional and Business community are seeking the cream of professional & business people to be recognised at its annual gala dinner and awards event on 2nd July 2005.

The niche awards aims to promote, encourage growth, excellence and innovation in its professional and business community and to act as a platform for identifying positive role models and mentors for aspiring young people of the Diaspora. Emelia Bartels Awards Founder States “The GPA awards offer unique opportunity to recommend a Ghanaian achiever in various professional occupations or business persons who deserves public recognition and is making an impact in the United Kingdom. It also focuses on every day individuals in the community who would not normally receive recognition for their achievements, or who have not received the due recognition in the mainstream awards”

Who Is Eligible?

Any professional, organisation or business you deem has attained excellence in their field as well as contributed significantly to their community in any shape or form. Nominations should be received by 31st May 2005. Former winners cannot be nominated for the same category unless there have been significant changes in status quo or entering for a different category. The organisers are also encouraging more participation from young people this year who have a special award designated to them.

2005 Awards Categories

There are three main Categories (Professional. General, and Special) with eighteen individual awards for grabs this year. The Professional Awards include: The General Awards include:

Law ¨ Communication & Media Architecture ¨ Science & Technology Health (medicine & nursing) ¨ Entrepreneur Fashion & Beauty ¨ Business innovator Banking & Finance ¨ Religion & Social Care Sports ¨ Entertainment.

The Special Awards for grabs this year are Excell Award for Innovation Dedication & Excellence (IDE), which goes to the top award winner, The Outstanding Contributor Award for non Ghanaians, the GPA International Award for Ghanaians in the Diaspora not normally residing in the UK and the Young Creative Star Award for a young Ghanaian under the age of 25. The Young creative star this year will be voted in through text voting as well voting on the website. For more info contact [email protected]

To celebrate its 5th anniversary in conjunction with the Africa 05 Agenda and to encourage International trade and growth between Ghana and the UK, The GPA together with Ghana's Ministry for Trade and Industry, the Ministry for private sector Development and Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) have introduced a new special Award - The Corporate Champion. The award aims to project Multinationals and organisations operating and with links in Ghana and Africa for their successful work in the area of Capacity Building, Training & Development, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Stakeholder Benefits. For More Information contact [email protected] or telephone 0870 446 4472

The GPA Awards since its inception five years ago have offered a platform not only for rewarding and promoting the cream of the Business & professional community but also has been significant in promoting international trade through networking between Professionals, Businesses and High Profile decision makers both in the UK and in Ghana.

Notes to Editors:

v Founded by Emelia Bartels of Excell Consultancy, the GPA Awards were first held in July 2001 as a niche awards to encourage and promote excellence in Ghana's UK Professionals, Businesses and Youth. Over the years, it has become the premier awards in recognising the unsung heroes and heroines in the community hitherto not given mainstream recognition.

v The five largest African markets including Ghana account for over £2.5 billion of UK exports each year. The GPA Awards aims to create a climate where successful Entrepreneurs can encourage and motivate other Business owners in the UK as well as offer a platform for these elite entrepreneurs to link and network with Businesses in Africa and Caribbean where there are enormous opportunities for investment.

v The GPA is endorsed by a diverse range of high profile individuals, companies, celebrities and community groups including His Excellency Isaac Osei, The Ghana High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland, Baroness Chalker of Wallasey and Director of Africa Matters Ltd, Rt Hon Paul Boateng, Secretary of State to the Treasury, Lee Jasper, Adviser to the Mayor of London, Prof Konotey-Ahulu, of Harley Street and Cromwell Hospitals, Kwame Kwei-Armah, of Casualty and celebrity fame academy, Adjoa Andoh actress and formally of Holby City, Charles Thompson of Screen Nation Awards, Kofi Kusitor of Black Enterprise Awards and CEO of the Technology firm Cursitor Group, Henry Bonsu, writer and Broadcaster. Other supporters include Adam Afriyie CEO of Connect Support Services, Councillor Marianne Alapini of Kensington & Chelsea Borough, Dame Betty Asafu-Adjaye of Mission Dine Club, as well as Channel 4's Jon Snow, presenters June Sarpong and Lisa I' Anson.

v For more information Contact: GPA Awards P.O. Box 1999, Ilford, IG1 9DS Tel: 0870 446 4472 [email protected] www.gpaawards.net