Nominate an Achiever Now to avoid Disappointment

The organisers of the annual prestigious GPA Awards for Ghana?s Professional and Business community are inviting professional and business people to be recognised at its 6th annual gala dinner and awards event on 1st July 2006, at the New Connaught Rooms, London, WC2.

The awards aims to promote encourage growth, excellence and innovation in its professional and business community. In recent times the awards have become the forum for harnessing and developing the entrepreneurial skills and talents of its community as well as professional development of its knowledge base. The awards also act as a platform for identifying positive role models and mentors for aspiring young people of African Origin. Emelia Bartels, Awards Founder said. ?Promoting and harnessing our professional and entrepreneurial talent is not only essential in raising the profile of our community but also significant in highlighting previously untapped talent which is essential in any thriving economy. GPA 2006 aims to provide this platform as well as become the unsurpassed forum for motivation, self- esteem, self-confidence and global networking. Nominating an achiever will ensure we attain this mission ?

Who is Eligible?

Any professional, organisation or business you deem has attained excellence in their field as well as contributed significantly to their community in any shape or form. International participants can enter for the GPA International category and may not normally reside in the UK. Closing dates for nominations is 31st May 2006. Interested parties could either go on the GPA website (www.gpaawards.net) or emailing for an entry form. Former winners cannot be nominated for the same category unless there have been significant changes in status quo or entering for a different category. As always the organisers are encouraging more participation from young people this year who have a special award designated to them.

2006 Awards Categories

There are three main Categories: Professional. General, and Special with nineteen individual awards for grabs this year. The Professional Awards are: Law, Architecture, Health (medicine & nursing) Fashion & Beauty, Banking & Finance, and Sports. The General Awards include: Communication & Media, Science & Technology, Entrepreneur, Business innovator, Religion & Social Care and Entertainment. The Special Awards for grabs this year are Excell Award for Innovation Dedication & Excellence (IDE), which goes to the top award winner, The Outstanding Contributor Award for non Ghanaians, the GPA International Award for Ghanaians in the Diaspora not normally residing in the UK, the Young Creative Star Award for a young Ghanaian under the age of 25 and The Corporate Champion - for Multinationals and organisations operating and with links in Ghana and Africa.

The GPA is currently working with potential entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas with mentorship over 3-6 months.- The GPA Business Class; Participants to this programme will be offered certificates at the certificate presentation night prior to the awards with the most outstanding receiving the GPA Business Class Award. This programme is open to all Africans resident in the UK. As an ongoing programme, potential participants are encouraged to apply through businessclass@gpaawards.net. The award winner will also receive financial incentive from our sponsoring bank.

Launch GPA Foundation The GPA will launch this July, the charitable arm of the organisation, The GPA Foundation, which aims to provide support for African and Ghanaian charities both in the UK and internationally. The Foundation will also engage in projects in Ghana for the underprivileged. The vision of the Foundation is to raise ?1million pounds for investment projects for the poor and marginalised. Over the years the awards have been at the forefront of supporting several charities both in the UK and Africa with the proceeds from The Grand Charity Raffle on the night. Charities that have benefited from this segment of the event include The Light House Foundation, The Ghana School Aid, The Capecoast Eye Clinic and Renascent Woman?s Charity. In recent times DWIB Leukaemia Trust, Mission Dine Club and the Nikotech Angels of Hope Orphanage, Save a Million Lives HIV & AIDS have all been adopted as charities to support from the foundation. Website: http://www.gpaawards.net

All nominators for this year event will be put in a prize draw to win free tickets to the awards and gala dinner in July. About GPA Awards The GPA Awards at the last awards event introduced several groundbreaking initiatives, which is to drive its current strategic mission as a Professional Development organisation. The ongoing projects are part of several initiatives to propel its vision of ?Harnessing the power of 3? - Financial, professional and Entrepreneurial resource. Over the past six years, the GPA have offered a platform not only for rewarding and promoting the cream of the Business & professional community but also has been significant in promoting international trade through networking between Professionals, Businesses and High Profile decision makers both in the UK and in Ghana. The awards have been instrumental in identifying Diaspora investors and professionals for building sustainable capacity and investment links back in their country of origin. Website: http://www.gpaawards.net

For Nominations

Joanne Bartels

Event Coordinator

email: nominations@gpaawards.net

phone: 0870 446 4472 For Sponsorship Contact

Georgina Bimpong

PR & Marketing

email: Sponsorship@gpaawards.net

phone: +44(0)870 442 4472