In a historic and tightly contested awards ceremony, Dr Bernard Fosu Frimpong has made national headlines by becoming the first diaspora Ghanaian citizen to win the prestigious 2023 Geo-Spatial Planner of the Year Award presented by the Ghana Institute of Planners (GIP).

Dr Bernard outcompeted over 50 elite nominees from across Ghana’s 16 regions, securing the top honour with an overwhelming 70-point lead over the second and third runners-up combined—an unprecedented margin in the award’s history.

Dr Bernard, a Germany-based geospatial and remote sensing expert, emerged victorious after a gruelling, months-long nomination and adjudication process.

His groundbreaking work in spatial planning, particularly through transformative nationwide geospatial capacity-building programs, propelled him to the top of this year’s nominations.
The award—one of the most competitive under the GIP Awards umbrella—recognises professionals with exceptional mastery in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and spatial data applications in urban and regional planning.

“Dr. Bernard’s submission didn’t just meet the criteria—it redefined the standard,” said Dr Anita Mensah, a renowned GIS and land administration expert and one of the 10 distinguished judges on the GIP Awards panel. “In the Geo-Spatial Planner category, we demanded innovation, measurable national impact, and demonstrable advancement in spatial technology adoption. Bernard exceeded all three. His clear 70-point lead reflected both technical excellence and national relevance.”

Prof Emmanuel Asamoah, senior lecturer in Spatial Planning and a key member of the panel, added: “Bernard’s training programs in GIS and remote sensing have empowered over 750 urban planners across Ghana. His training for over 300 regional and municipal planners in Accra and the Kumasi session for over 450 geospatial technologists set new standards for professional development. His work bridges the academic-practice divide, and this award validates that contribution.”

Mr. Kwame Bediako, former GIP President and member of the selection committee, further remarked: “The quality of competition this year was incredibly high—Stella Agyeman-Duah’s urban sustainability work and Dr. Appiah Tetteh’s coastal resilience innovations were exceptional. But Bernard’s nationwide geospatial literacy campaigns, policy advisory role, and legacy of transformative capacity-building efforts in Ghana made him an unmatched candidate.”

Dr Bernard’s rise to this honour comes amid GIP’s continued mission to highlight innovation and sustainable planning in Ghana’s rapidly urbanising environment. His recognition not only honours his technical expertise but also symbolises the value of diaspora contributions to national development.

The GIP Awards, which drew entries from all 16 regions, included nominations such as: Mrs. Stella Agyeman-Duah (Greater Accra), known for her sustainable city designs, Mr. Nimo Addae (Bono Region), lauded for a groundbreaking land digitization project; and Dr. Appiah Tetteh (Volta Region), celebrated for climate resilience planning.

This year’s award process was rigorous, with a distinguished panel of over 10 adjudicators evaluating nominees based on innovation, policy influence, sustainability, and professional impact. The inclusion of judges from academia, government, and the private sector ensured a well-rounded and meritocratic selection process.

The Ghana Institute of Planners praised Dr. Bernard’s historic win, noting that it marks a turning point in recognising diaspora excellence in shaping Ghana’s urban and regional planning landscape.

“This win inspires not just planners in Ghana, but Ghanaian professionals abroad to give back in impactful, innovative ways,” said the GIP Awards Committee Chairperson.
For Dr Bernard, the honour is a humbling milestone.

“I am deeply honoured to receive this award from GIP. This recognition reaffirms the critical importance of GIS and geospatial intelligence in Ghana’s planning systems. I dedicate this to every planner who believes in the power of data and spatial thinking to shape better futures,” he said during his acceptance speech.

With his pioneering legacy now formally recognised, Dr. Bernard is expected to continue advancing geospatial excellence both in Ghana and globally, cementing his place as one of the most influential planning professionals of this generation.