Mr. Isaac Osei, Ghana?s High Commissioner to the UK has been presented with the 2004 ?Person of the Year? award at the Ghana Professional Achievers Awards (GPA) ceremony in London.

The award was presented by Ms. Emelia Bartels, founder of the GPA in recognition of his outstanding and significant contribution to the image and profile of Ghana in the United Kingdom.

The awards ceremony organised by Excell Marketing Consultants Ltd. Is the 4th to be held in London since it was instituted.

Receiving the award, Mr. Osei thanked the organisers for the award and dedicated it to His Excellency Mr. J.A. Kufuor for giving him the opportunity to serve his country as the representative of the government and people of Ghana in the United Kingdom.

He also said that without the loyalty, commitment and support of the entire staff of the Ghana High Commission for their handwork, he would not have been given such a recognition.

The primary goal of the awards scheme is to honour exceptional performers in various enterprises in a bid to further excellence in the Ghanaian and African communities.

Present at this year?s event were Honourable Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Minister of Interior who was the guest speaker, Dr. Samuel Nii Noi Ashong, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Lee Jasper, Special Adviser on Racism to the Mayor of London, Mr. Kwabena Baah-Duodu, Deputy High Commissioner, a cross-section of the Ghanaian community and friends of Ghana.

In all, twenty Ghanaian professionals in identifiable fields such as health and science, law, architecture, banking and finance, communication and media, entertainment were honoured.

Some of the awards winners were Mr. and Mrs Ampaw, founders of the Original Black Entertainment Television (OBE) ? for business innovation, Dame Betty Asafo-Adjei (Religion and Social Care) and Mr. Appiah Kuffuor of Luton Regeneration Service who was honoured for his entrepreneurial skills.

Other winners included Dr. Herman Kojo Chinery-Hesse of Soft Tribe Ltd. Ghana who received the GPA international Award in recognition of his contribution to Ghana and the diaspora, Mr. Kojo Akoto - the young creative star of the year award, Dr. Samuel Debrah - for his service to the UK medical society and the Ghanaian community, Mr. Eric Osei - for innovation, dedication and excellence and Ms. Anita Asante of the Arsenal football club and Captain, England Under 19 Ladies Team who received the sports award.

Honourable Owusu-Acheampong and Dr. Ashong presented the Excell innovation, dedication and excellence and the new GPA international awards respectively to the winners.

The outstanding contributor award which went to Ms. Geogi Cohen of AFRIKIDS was presented by Mr. Isaac osei, while the religion and social care award was presented by Mr. Kwabena Baah-Duodu.

The highlight of the evening was a fashion show depicting African costumes mounted by KRISWEAR. Singer, song writer and musician Rhian Benson treated the large audience to some captivating songs from her rich repertoire.