The event will take place on Wednesday July 31, 2019 at the Challenge House, Abelemkpe to unveil the theme for the awards and open nominations for the various categories for prospective candidates.

The awards ceremony, scheduled on the last Friday of every November, is aimed at acknowledging the efforts and hard work of individuals and organisations in the country's energy sector.

This was in a statement signed by Mr Henry Teinor and Mr Nicholas Frimpong-Manso, organisers of the event and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

The event is endorsed by the Ministry of Energy and World Energy Council, Ghana and has Mazars Ghana as its validators.

"I can assure the public that candidates who win will be deserving, as we have broadened the judging spectrum. We have decided to involve most industry players in the process," Mr Teinor said.

He said the Organising Committee decided to do the launch three months to the event so that prospective candidates would have ample time to gather their documents and evidences to support their applications.

"We are watching out for projects, new deals, strategic achievements of companies in the sector. We are also looking out for organisations that ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards.

"To this end, we consult with industry regulators-the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum Commission, Energy Commission and the NPA as well as industry associations such as the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors and the Association of Oil Marketing Companies to ascertain which companies are doing things the right way so that we get the proof of proper conduct from the regulators.

Those who are treading the right way and not cheating the public to make their gains, those are the candidates we consider," he added.

This, he said, indicated the proof of the thoroughness of the awarding process, as such judging is keen.

As part of activities toward the 2019 event, visits will be paid to project sites indicated by nominees for assessment by the awarding panel, especially for the Corporate Social Responsibility category.

Some categories of the awards are the apex awards - Energy Personality of the Year, both male and female categories.

Other prominent categories include; the Rising star award, Energy Reporter, Energy Institution, Energy efficient organisation of the year, among others.

Dr Kwame Ampofo, the Chairman of the Awarding Panel said the Awards, in principle, the event was to honour hardworking players in the energy sector as well as promote competition and quality service.

He said according to plan, each succeeding year of the award scheme is expected to better organised in terms of quality delivery, attendance, assessment of nominees which totally transparent and a reflection of happenings in the industry.

The event in 2018 was far larger, he said, in terms of attendance, publicity and over all organisation, however, this year, "we are expecting and working toward a better event in all regards," he added.

According to the Chairman of Awarding Panel, the Ghana Energy Awards was considered by industry players and regulators as truly the 'Mother of all awards' in the country's energy sector.

Innovative awards such as the special Non-Competitive category which both previous editions were received by noble personalities making the awards scheme unique and separate from all other awards.

"This year, we will be featuring a special set of awards, similar to the non-competitive awards, for high-level performers in the country whose patriotism and efforts have moved the country and for that matter the Energy sector forward.

This set of awards is non-political, but for politicians who have toiled to move the country ahead, and these are personalities who the whole country will attest that they deserve the awards," Dr Ampofo said.

From prospective nominees, Dr Ampofo expected them to continue with their efforts and ensure keen competition among themselves.

He also expected more companies to participate in this year's awards with a show of competitive attitude through their business, safety, local content and in the output of their operations.

Madam Kate Papafio, Chief Executive of Reroy Group and Dr Alfred Ofosu Ahenkorah, Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, took home the awards for Energy Personality of the Year awards for both female and male categories respectively at the maiden event in 2017.

At the 2018 event, Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata and Dr Wereko-Brobbey received the awards for their respective roles in the country's upstream and power sectors during their service to the country.