Accra, March 13, GNA - The Awards Planning Committee for the first ever Ghana Property Awards 2006 (GAPOA) at its second meeting last Thursday outlined modalities for the event that promises to showcase the unique architectural and creative designs in the local construction industry. The meeting also coincided with the formal launch of the website for the event by Mr Edmund Nartey, Head of the Customer Service Department of the African Concrete Products Limited (ACP), sponsors of the site. The awards, which will focus on both indigenous and contemporary buildings and structures in both the pre-and post- colonial eras, will cover the housing estate, banking, commercial, hospitality industry, and public infrastructure stretching into the immediate past 25 years.

Professor Ralph Mills-Tettey, Chairman of the Panel of Judges for the Event, welcomed the launch of the website, saying interested companies and contestants would find it worthwhile to download registration forms from the website to facilitate their participation in the event. The meeting dwelt on the categories of entries, media promotion, proposal for setting up sub-committees, rules and dates for submission of entries by contestants, judging process, and composition of the Technical Committee, among others.

The panel of judges comprises the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA), Ghana Institute of Architects, Ghana Institution of Engineers, Ghana Institution of Surveyors, Property Express Company, Ministry of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital; City, and the Ministry of Road Transport. Nii Kommey Okine, Official Representative of GREDA, explained to real estate developers and other companies that their sponsorship of the event was not a criterion for winning an award but should rather consider the coming event as their own. Alhaji Alhassan Dawauni, official representative of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, appealed to real estate developers and other companies in the property industry for maximum participation and patronage. The Ghana Property Awards 2006, which is intended to encourage innovative real solutions within the property industry and enhance quality standards, is scheduled to take place on October 28, this year.