Stonebwoy is Man of the Year at Ghana's EMY Awards

The ceremony was held at the Kempinksi Hotel in Accra at the weekend and saw performances by Nigeria's Simi and Ghanian acts Daddy Lumba and Trigmatic. In attendance were a former first lady of the country Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings and president of the Musicians Union of Ghana Bice Osei Kuffour.

Other winners on the night included the ethnomusicologist Joseph Hanson Kwabena Nketia, who at 97 was the oldest honoree, as well as Charles Kojo Fosu (popularly known as Daddy Lumba), who was named Icon/Legend of Entertainment.

Last year, the entertainment category was won by gospel music star Joe Mettle, who earlier in the year swept through the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, edging out Stonebwoy and other acts including Sarkodie to be crowned Artist of the Year.

“This is one award scheme that wants to motivate men, both young and old, that they can be more than just men," said the CEO of the Exclusive Men of the Year Awards. "It serves as an avenue for men to move out of their comfort zone and become agents of change."

Full list of winners below:

Competitive Award winners

• Man of the Year Entertainment – Stonebwoy
• Man of the TYear Communications – Bernard Avle
• Man of the Year Style – Okyeame Kwame
• Fashion Designer of the Year – Kwaku Bediako (Chocolate Clothing)
• Men Group of the Year – St Augustine’s Past Students Association
• Man of the Year Sports – Isaac Dogboe
• Discovery of the Year – Kwami Eugene

Honorary Awards

Ultimate Man of the Year/Supremo Flagship Award – Togbe Afede XIV

For his contributions to society and the economy of Ghana, and his leadership of the chieftaincy institution. An investment banker with experience spanning over 20 years, he is the founder and co-founder of many companies, including Ghana’s largest domestic and regional airline – Africa World Airline. He is a member of the Council of State. He has also served as chairman of the Economic Team during the government transition in 2009. He was a member of the President’s Economic Advisory Council from 2009 to 2012 and served on the board of the Bank of Ghana for 10 years. He is currently the chairman of World Trade Centre Accra.

Ultimate Woman of the Year/The Yaa Asantewaa Award – Grace Amey-Obeng

For her instrumental work in beauty therapy education, manufacturing and women empowerment. For her social entrepreneurship and strides in corporate governance. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Forever Clair Group of Companies. She currently serves as the board chairperson of United Merchant Bank Foundation and is the national treasurer of the Association of Ghana Industries. Her passion for women and children led her to establish the Grace Amey-Obeng Foundation International which aims to take young girls off the street and equip them with employable skills.

The Lifetime Achievement Award –  Joseph Hanson Kwabena Nketia

For his contribution to African music. Africa’s premier musicologist and the most published and best-known authority on African music. He has more 200 publications and 80 musical compositions to his credit. His publications include the world acclaimed Music of Africa, which has been translated into German, Italian, Chinese and Japanese. He is an emeritus professor of music at the University of Ghana, where he began teaching in 1952, and now currently directs the International Centre for African Music and Dance. He is a Foundation Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts & Sciences and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Citizen Ghana Award –  Franklin Cudjoe

Outstanding citizen. For his devoted service to society through founding IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, a think tank that applies free market solutions to intricate domestic societal problems. Through IMANI, he is focused on helping Ghana develop through four thematic areas: rule of law, market growth and development, individual rights, and human security and institutional development. He is a fellow of the African Leadership Network.

The Icon/Legend of Entertainment Award –  Charles Kojo Fosu (Daddy Lumba)

For his consistency and relevance in the music industry. He is a multiple award-winning musician with an extremely successful career spanning almost three decades. He has released 33 albums including the critically acclaimed Aben Wo Ha and Sika Asem.

The Young Achiever Award – Ghana and Africa (Rising Star Award) –  Emmanuel Kojo Jones-Mensah

A rising star. He has over 6 years’ experience in construction, design and global real estate development. He started out as a business development manager in the United Kingdom but has returned to Ghana to create business opportunities and employment. He is now the co-CEO of Empire Concrete Ltd, and founder of Empire Domus Ltd. As a way of giving back to society, he has recently initiated Power Africa Project by creating a consortium in the United Kingdom and Norway to contribute to the energy sector through clean and constant renewable energy.

David Jones-Mensah

For his contribution to the economy. A budding and savvy entrepreneur, he is the Managing Director of Dominion International Petroleum Limited, a renowned bulk oil distribution company. Under his leadership, he directs strong management teams to deliver quality services within Ghana and around West Africa. With his passion and foresight, he finds opportunities buying businesses and turning them into progressive companies. He has reached a crescendo in business development and advanced his leadership skills at a very young age.

Humanitarian of the Year (Philanthropy Award) –  Osei Kwame Despite

For his philanthropy. He is widely known for philanthropic work and magnanimity towards society. He recently donated a newly constructed ultra-modern children’s block at the 37 Military Hospital on his birthday. He also commissioned two new edifices for the Tesano police headquarters in Accra and Wiamoase police, where he hails from, to enhance police activities in the respective communities.

The Guardian Award (Mentorship Award) –  Opanin Kwadwo Kyere

For his dedication and service to society. He is a renowned marriage counsellor and guidance coach who reaches thousands through his counselling sermons and seminars.

The Inventor Award (Info-technology Award) –  Nicholas Bortey

For his contribution to Information Technology. He is an IT strategist and business consultant who uses bespoke technological solutions to help organisations achieve real business value. His IT firm, Liranz has won several accolades and continues to break barriers in IT consultancy and service provision.

Man of the Year Health – Moses De-Gualle Dogbatsey

For his contributions to the medical sector. He is trained medical doctor and a former senior officer at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital who now upon extensive research into plant medicine, has established Medi Moses Prostate Centre to treat prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia.

Man of the Year Oil and Gas –  Kofi Amoa Abban

For his outstanding contribution to the oil and gas industry. He is the founder of Rigworld Group, an oil services business with operations across West Africa. Among other things, his company provides recruitment services to the burgeoning oil and gas industry in Ghana. He also founded PressureTech, a subsidiary of Rigworld which offers engineering solutions to oil and gas companies.

The Magnate Award (Businessman of the Year) –  Ernest Ofori Sarpong

For his leadership and contribution to the economy of Ghana. He employs 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.

The Man of Courage Award – Ivor Kobina Greenstreet

For his relentless activism of human rights as well as for the enhancement of the opportunities of the youth. He was the 2016 presidential candidate of the Convention People’s Party and served the Disability Council from 2007 to 2009. He embodies the dictum, ‘disability is not inability.’

Special Recognition Awards

Anthony Pile (Green Corporate Star Award)

For his outstanding contribution to the economy. He is the founder and chairman of Blue Skies, a leading manufacturer of fresh-cut fruit, freshly squeezed juice, and dairy-free ice-cream, with eleven operations in seven countries. The company is built on the principle of value-adding at source. He has grown the company over 20 years and now employs over 6,000 people. 

Matthew Mensah (African Humanitarian Award)

 For his service to mankind and philanthropy. He has executed Stop Child Hunger and Malaria Campaigns across Africa. He is the official spokesperson of Stop Gender-Based Violence and the creator of the first continental campaign against Child Trafficking.

Nelson Mandela (Man of Africa Award)

For his activism, leadership and philanthropy. He was an apartheid revolutionary, and political leader who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by tackling institutionalised racism and fostering racial reconciliation. He also worked with the Nelson Mandela Foundation to focus on rural development, school construction and combating HIV/AIDS.

Mike Amon Kwafo (Event Development in Ghana)

For his substantial contribution to event development in Ghana. He is a designer and planner on demand, and has participated and pioneered many ventures in entertainment, cultural expos, multimedia and broadcast media. He was also very instrumental in the creation of the Exclusive Man of the Year Awards. He has art directed a few international film projects, notably the ground-breaking film, Heritage Africa. In 2012, he was appointed as divisional director of television at Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

George Owusu (For helping discover oil in commercial quantities in Ghana)

He founded EO Group which specialises in oil and gas exploration and production. He played a leading role in committing Kosmos `Energy, a Dallas, Texas-based oil and gas company to invest in Ghana’s offshore oil exploration and production. He was then appointed its Country Manager between 2004 to 2009 and presided over the first major successful oil and gas exploration program in Ghana leading to the world-renowned Jubilee Fields containing an estimated 1.2 billion barrels of oil and gas equivalent.

The Man of the Year Agriculture Award (The Green Fingers Award) – John Bewuah Edusei

For his special contribution to agriculture. He is a veterinary officer with over 15 years of extraordinary accomplishment in creating and implementing innovations. His company, Chicks and Chicken Services Ltd, provides technical assistance to poultry farmers, and provides conducive platforms for key players in the poultry, aquaculture, livestock and aqua-allied industries to interact and build networks.