Ing. Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority (VRA), has topped all players in the country’s energy sector to become the Energy Personality of the Year 2021 at the 5^th Ghana Energy Awards, held in Accra.

This is the second time the VRA Chief has won this ultimate title. His first apex award was in 2018 after beating several other competing giants in the sector.

He was also named the Chief Executive of the Year in the Power subsector in 2019.  A Civil Engineer by profession, Ing. Antwi-Darkwa, commenced his career with the VRA in 1985 and served in various capacities until his current appointment as Chief Executive.

With over 30 years of extensive experience in the energy industry, Ing. Antwi-Darkwa has, among others, detailed knowledge in the functional and regulatory influences in Ghana's energy sector, and the dynamics of international power systems development.

The 5^th Ghana Energy Awards, under the theme: “Digitalised Energy Sector: The Key For A Resilient Economic Future,” was organised by the Energy Media Group in partnership with GP Business Consulting. The colourful ceremony had in attendance the former president John Agyekum Kufuor, Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, the Minister of Energy, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, representatives of government and captains of the energy industry.

GEA 2021 also crowned Tullow Ghana’s Deputy Managing Director, Cynthia Lumor as Female Energy Personality of the Year.

Chief Executive of the Ghana Grid Company, GRIDCO, emerged the CEO of the Year in the power category, while Dr Ben K. D. Asante, CEO of Ghana Gas was adjudged the CEO of the Year in the petroleum category.

Energy Company of the Year for Power was Sunon Asogli Power, whilst GOIL took the same award in the petroleum category, with Meinergy Technology picking the award in the Renewable category. The Bui Power Authority picked up double awards for Excellence in Power Generation and Clean Energy Initiative of the Year.

Lawyer Kwame Jantuah, Chairman of the GEA Awarding Panel, underscored the need for Ghana’s energy sector to shift toward digitalisation which is necessary for energy transition.

The GEA, he said, believes the "digital pandemic sweeping across the globe" will usher in an introduction of massive technology into Ghana’s energy sector, hence the theme for this year’s awards.

On his part, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Energy Minister, said it is President Akufo-Addo’s vision that in the 21st century, the country should be able to “take advantage of the innovative tool of digitalisation to power and propel the economy”, adding , that is why government is employing several digital tools to improve efficiencies and better mobilise revenues.

These solutions include the National Petroleum Authority’s National Retail Outlet Fuel Monitoring System, a digital setup that allows the NPA to monitor the fuel in the tanks of all OMCs in Ghana in real time to prevent illegal fuel trade in the petroleum downstream sector; the Ghana Petroleum Register to enhance transparency in the upstream petroleum sector, and the Local Content E-Portal System, both for the petroleum upstream.

In the power sector, there is the Meter Management System (MMS) for the Electricity Company of Ghana, a setup which provides a common digitalised platform for the integration of all ECG’s smart prepaid meters for effective monitoring and management to reduce commercial losses.

Ing. Henry Teinor, the Event Director, in his speech expressed his appreciation for the industry’s support to the Ghana Energy Awards Scheme, and further promised several value additions to the initiative in subsequent years.

These will include outdooring newly designed awards plaques next year which will be a unique emblem of the Ghana Energy Awards; special forum for all winners, as well as for all nominees to discuss pertinent issues toward the sector’s advancement.

The 2021 Ghana Energy Awards honoured the Ministry of Energy with the Excellence in Leadership and Governance Award, while the Ghana National Gas Company and the Energy Commission took home the awards for the Student impact programme of the year-Tertiary cycle for The Gas Challenge, and the Student Impact Programme of the Year–Secondary Cycle for Renewable Energy Challenge, respectively. Senyo Hosi, CEO of CBOD received the Exemplary Leadership Award, with the Women-In-Energy Excellence Award going to Dr Stella Agyenim-Boateng, Deputy Chief Executive, Services of the VRA.

Former president J.A. Kufuor and the late JJ Rawlings also received the Lifetime Achievement Awards for their diverse contributions to the country’s energy sector.