The Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority, Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa has been adjudged as the Chief Executive of the Year in the power sector at the 2019 Ghana Energy Awards held in Accra.

The award was in recognition of his invaluable contributions to the energy sector through his active roles in the VRA, where he has served in various capacities since 1985.

A Civil Engineer by profession, Mr Antwi-Darkwa has over thirty years of extensive experience in the energy industry and has detailed knowledge in the functional and regulatory influences in Ghana’s energy sector, and the dynamics of international power systems development. 

He possesses expertise in strategic planning, policy formulation and evaluation, contract negotiations, as well as the development of several multi-disciplinary power projects. 

He has been involved in projects such as the 400 MW Bui hydroelectric power project, and the expansion of the 220MW Takoradi Thermal Power Plant.

Since taking over as Chief Executive, Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa has championed a conscious change in VRA’s business model and organisational mind-set to ensure improved operational and project implementation efficiencies. 

He has ensured improvement in the financial health of the VRA since 2014 and reduced VRA’s carbon footprint through the Corporate Solid Waste Segregation Programme, and through the VRA, he has provided scholarships in 2019 to 300 brilliant but needy students in Tertiary institutions from VRA impacted communities.

Among many projects, he has completed feasibility studies, sourced funding and engaged the procurement process to award the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam and Irrigation Project. He has also established the automation of commonly used corporate forms, injected excellence and commitment into the operations and enhanced VRA’s Renewable efforts.

He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in International Oil & Gas Management, University of Dundee, UK, a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard University, USA, as well as a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Civil Engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. 

In view of his immense efforts and observed impact in the VRA and contributions to the energy sector in general, the Ghana Energy Awards has recognised Mr Antwi-Darkwa the Energy Personality of the Year.